Interpretation ID: nht94-3.5

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: May 24, 1994

FROM: Carmen Colet -- Vice President, John Russo Industrial, Inc.

TO: Dorothy Nakama, NHTSA

TITLE: NONE

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 7/11/94 from John Womack to Carmen Colet (A42; VSA 102(3))

TEXT: WE ARE CONSTRUCTING AN AIRCRAFT RESCUE AND FIRE-FIGHTING VEHICLE TO SATISFY PROPOSED U.S.A.F. AND D.O.D. SPECS. FOR NEW TYPE YF AND YZ AIRCRAFT.

1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT FMVSS DOES NOT COVER THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS NOT PRIMARILY INTENDED FOR PUBLIC HIGHWAY USE. IT IS MADE TO OPERATE ON AIR FIELDS. ITS TIRES ARE 54" HIGH AND OVER 2 FT. WIDE AND MADE TO RUN FOR 20 MINUTES AR 65 MPH AS A GUIDELINE. T HE SMALL VEHICLE WEIGHS 20 TONS FULL OF WATER AND FOAM. BUMPERS ARE SPECIFIED AT 5 FT. HIGH. COCKPIT IS SIMILAR TO 117A STEALTH FIGHTER. IT CARRIES A POWER WATER TURRET ON TOP. ENCLOSED IS A CONFIDENTIAL PICTURE.

2. DO WE NEED TO USE THE 17 DIGIT FORMULA?

3. DO WE HAVE TO NOTIFY NHTSA SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED?