TIV
The Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) is a heavily modified 1997 Ford F-450 truck used as a storm chasing platform and built by IMAX director Sean Casey. This heavily armored vehicle can drive into a relatively weak tornado (EF0 to EF3) to film it and take measurements. Work began on the TIV in 2003 and took around 8 months to finish, at a total cost of around $80,000. TIV's armored shell consists of 1/8-1/4 inch steel plate welded to a two inch square steel tubing frame. The windows are bullet resistant polycarbonate, measuring 1 1/2 inches thick on the windshield and 1/2 inch thick on the sides. The TIV weighs approximately 15,000 pounds fully loaded and is powered by a 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel producing 215 horsepower, giving it a top speed of 62 MPH. The TIV has a fuel capacity of 60 U.S. gallons, giving it a range of around 500 miles. Some people may call it "Dumb and Dumber without the fur", quoting Sean Casey, because of its resemblance to the "sheepdog van" of that movie. The TIV is featured in a series called Storm Chasers which began airing on the Discovery Channel in October 2007.[1][2] TIV was succeeded in 2008 by TIV 2, but returned to service to finish out the 2008 storm chasing season after TIV 2 suffered mechanical problems.
TIV 2
Casey and his team developed and built the second Tornado Intercept Vehicle, dubbed "TIV 2," to be featured in their next IMAX movie and the Storm Chasers series.[3] Work began in September 2007 and was completed in time for the 2008 tornado chase season. TIV 2 was designed to address some of the problems experienced with the original TIV, namely it's low ground clearance, lack of four-wheel drive, and low top speed. It is based on a Dodge four-wheel drive 1 Ton Truck Frame that was strengthened and converted to six-wheel drive by adding a third axle. It is powered by a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine, modified with propane and water injection to produce 625 horsepower. This gives TIV 2 an estimated top speed of over 100 MPH. Fuel capacity is 92 U.S. gallons, giving TIV 2 an approximate range of 750 miles. The body of TIV 2 is constructed of a 1/8 inch steel skin welded over a 2 inch square tubing steel frame. The windows in TIV 2 are all bulletproof 1 5/8 inch interlayered polycarbonate sheets and tempered glass. TIV 2 also features an IMAX filming turret similar to the one on the original TIV. The original TIV's somewhat cumbersome hydraulic claws were not used on TIV 2 in favor of 6 hydraulic skirts that drop down to deflect wind over the TIV to stabilize it and protect the underside from debris.
TIV 2 debuted on the second season of Storm Chasers, which began airing on the Discovery Channel in October 2008. It's initial performance did not go well, as it was plagued by mechanical failures, including a broken axle, which forced Casey to abandon TIV 2 and return to chasing in the original TIV until TIV 2's issues could be resolved.[4][5] Although Casey hoped he would be back in TIV 2 before the end of the season, repairs and modifications on TIV 2 took longer than expected and Casey was shown on Storm Chasers ending the season in the original TIV.
References
External links
- ↑ SouthCoastToday.com: On 'Storm Chasers': In pursuit of twisters
- ↑ http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/storm-chasers/vehicles/vehicles.html
- ↑ KSWO, Lawton, OK- Wichita Falls, TX: News, Weather, Sports. ABC, 24/7, Telemundo - Tech students help build tornado vehicle
- ↑ http://jalopnik.com/5076023/tiv+2-an-exclusive-look-inside-the-techie-tank+like-tornado+chaser
- ↑ http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/storm-chasers/vehicles/vehicles.html