Naval Air Warfare Center AD, Contracts Dept. Code 233, Bldg 129-2, Lakehurst, NJ 08733-5083.

A -- WOVEN ARRESTING GEAR NYLON TAPES SOL N68335-96-RFI-619 DUE 091896 POC Ms. Darla Kelly Code 2330DK, (908) 323-7437. Buyer/Contracting Officer is J. Fackenthal. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, is seeking potential sources, industry comments, product information, or proposed ideas for the modification of the woven nylon tapes used with the land-based arresting gear systems. The arresting gear system is used to stop, or arrest, landing aircraft aboard Marine Corps airfields. The arresting gear consists of two hydraulic motors opposed across the runway. The arresting tape is wound onto a reel that is mechanically keyed to the hydraulic motor. A wire rope deck pendant cable stretches across the airfield and is attached to the ends of the opposing tapes. During an aircraft arrestment, the aircraft tailhook catches the cable, causing the tape to be pulled from the reel. The energy of the aircraft is dampened by the hydraulic motor, and the aircraft is brought to a halt. The present tapes are textile products woven from Nylon 6,6. The tapes have the nominal dimensions of 8 or 11 inches wide by 0.3 inches thick, by 600 to 900 feet in length. The nominal breaking strength of the tape is 150,000 to 170,000 pounds. The construction of the present tapes is described by specifications MIL-T-81791 and MIL-T-81736. The tapes are coated with a polyurethane compound to protect the tape against abrasion and enviromental degradation. The yarn and weave pattern of the present tapes are unchanging throughout the length of the tapes, resulting in uniform mechanical properties, notably tensile strength and elongation. It is desirable to modify sections of the tape to vary the elongation of the tape section without sacrifice to tensile strength or tape cross section. The modification could include the use of a different weave pattern, yarn material, coating, or combinations of the three. A transition region between the sections of higher and lower elongation is permissable as long as strength and dimensions are maintained. Coatings or techniques that could provide greater abrasion resistance to the tape are sought. Respondents to this Request for Information are invited to submit a statement of general interest, a discussion of the feasibility of the above described modifications, or a statement of capabilities to develop an item with such modifications. This synopsis is not a Request for Proposal and does not commit the Government to make an award of a contract. Any information submitted may or may not be included in any future procurement. The Government will not pay for any information that is received in response to this request, nor will the Government compensate any respondents for any costs incurred or associated witrh the development of any information provided. (0220)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0007 19960808\A-0007.SOL)