FA449726Q0006 Hangar Door Plug Questions and Answers.docx

FA449726Q0006 Hangar Door Plug Questions and Answers:

Background Understanding The Statement of Work indicates that the inflatable plug system must create an effective seal around a C-17 fuselage when the hangar door opening is configured for a C-5, minimizing air gaps and supporting a climate-controlled hangar environment during cold weather operations.

To ensure accurate technical interpretation, we request clarification on the points below.

Q1 – Hangar Door Opening Reference When stating “the hangar door opening is configured for a C-5,” is the Government’s intent that:

· The clear opening between hangar door wings should be assumed to approximate the C-5 fuselage diameter, and

· The inflatable plug assembly must seal the gap created when a C-17 is positioned within that larger opening?

Please confirm whether this interpretation is correct. Yes.

Q2 – Full-Height Curtain vs. Localized Inflatable Section Is the Government requesting a full-height fabric curtain system spanning from floor to ceiling, where:

· Portions of the system outside the C-17 fuselage interface are non-inflatable fabric, and

· Only the areas in proximity to the C-17 fuselage incorporate inflatable padding to achieve the thermal seal?

This question is to confirm whether a hybrid system (inflatable + non-inflatable fabric) is acceptable and intended. Inflatable + non-inflatable fabric not acceptable or intended.

Q3 – Hangar Door Height Please provide or confirm the approximate height of the hangar doors / clear opening at Building 714, as this dimension is required to determine:

· Total surface area of the curtain system, and

· The proportion of inflatable versus non-inflatable material.

368 inches or 30.5 feet Q4 – Aircraft Height Considerations Should both jacked and un-jacked configurations of the C-17 aircraft be considered when designing the inflatable contour geometry around the fuselage? No Q5 – Aircraft Compatibility Requirement Is the inflatable padding system required to:

· Seal only against the C-17 fuselage, or

· Be capable of sealing against both C-17 and C-5 fuselages when inflated?

We have an experience manufacturing multi-aircraft inflatable padding systems by interpolating fuselage sections; however, we want to confirm whether multi-aircraft compatibility is required or if the scope is limited to C-17 only. C-17 Only Concept Confirmation To ensure alignment, please also confirm whether the Government envisions a packable, railed curtain system, where:

· A single-body fabric curtain closes the door opening

· Keder rails are permanently mounted on the vertical door edges and remain in place when the system is idle

· A circular or contoured fuselage cutout incorporates inflatable padding

· Areas outside the inflatable contour are non-inflatable fabric

· The curtain may be installed via rails and raised into position (e.g., pulley-assisted or equivalent method)

The system must create an effective seal around a C-17 fuselage when the hangar door opening is configured for a C-5 C-17, minimizing air gaps and supporting a climate-controlled hangar environment in cold weather.

ENMARES: As far as I understand, the plug is aimed to seal around C-17 fuselages. However, the statement "when the hangar door opening is configured for a C-5" needs a bit more clarification.

Q6) Is it meant that "the distance between hangar door wings (clear opening) should be considered to be around the diameter of C-5 fuselage while the requested plug assy is employed? You may refer to the below illustration: C-17only; not C-5

As for the door type; we design and manufacture these systems in two configurations:

i. Railed, add-on frame-mounted. We install additional (add-on) sliding, self-driven (electric motor), solid-frame door wings (onto the existing hangar doors) that accommodate the inflatable seal pads, as seen in the below illustration)

ii. Fully-fabric. Without solid frame (excluding aluminum keder accessories), fly-away, packable, easy-to-install/uninstall/reinstall (as specified by you).

Q7) Are we supposed to provide a fabric that covers whole door opening from ground to the ceiling, as described in the Item-ii? In this case a certain portion of the plug "curtain" will be non inflatable (dear areas that do not need to be inflated), whereas the proximity of the C-17 fuselage will be inflatable. This question is also to be sure that we understand the request correctly. Please comment/confirm if you require the below concept in your RFQ. No fabric; just inflatable added to existing aperture doors.

Do you intend to use a packable, railed "curtain" system as illustrated in below figure? What we understand is:

- A single body curtain will be used to close the gap

- This fabric system will have keder railings over the vertical edges (yellow dashlines) to install it onto the existing doors. These rails will remain on the existing doors when the plug is idle.

- The curtain will have a circular hollow portion (let's say a "cutout") equipped with the inflatable padding (red dashline). Only the bottom portion of this curtain (vertically through the lower quadrant of the red circle) will be open to make them kiss after locating the A/C. It will so accommodate the relevant C-17 fuselage section when inflated.

- The area outside of red circle will be the fabric only (non-inflatable).

- The curtain will (may/can??) be installed by feeding the upper edge to the side rails from the bottom first, then will be hung upward by a pulley system till reaching the highest point of the open existing door(?).

Hope we have comprehended what you request correctly? This also makes sense when considering your requirement "must be installable by two (2) people or less, with no specialized training". If not, could you please clarify?

If we go through the Item- ii, and you confirm that we understand your query correctly, then we should know some more parameters, which are;

Q8) What is the height of the hangar doors (and opening accordingly), which we require to determine the total area of the plug system (inflatable+non-inflatable portions). Approximately 368 inches or 30.5 feet

Q9) Should jacked/unjacked heights of the C-17 be considered in the contour design of the inflatable pads? Unjacked

Q10) Is the system expected to comply with both C-17 and C-5 fuselages when inflated (we are manufacturing multi-aircraft inflatable padding by interpolating the designated aircraft's fuselage cestions for full compliance). Or only for C-17? You may see below an example to our multi-A/C padding. Only C-17 image4.png image5.png image1.png image2.png image3.png