Tornado Intercept Vehicle
| Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV 1) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Designer | Sean Casey |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | First Generation Storm Research Vehicle |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 7.3 litre Powerstroke Diesel |
| Transmission | ZF 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Height | 14 feet (4.3 m) |
| Curb weight | 16,500 lb (7,500 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | TIV 2 |
| Tornado Intercept Vehicle 2 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Designer | Sean Casey |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Second Generation Storm Research Vehicle |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | modified 6.7 liter turbocharged Cummins Diesel |
| Transmission | automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Curb weight | 16,500 lb (7,500 kg) (2008), 14,300 lb (6,500 kg) (2009–present) |
The Tornado Intercept Vehicle 1 (TIV 1) and Tornado Intercept Vehicle 2 (TIV 2) are vehicles used to film with an IMAX camera from very close proximity to or within a tornado. They were designed by film director Sean Casey. On May 27, 2013 the TIV2 filmed the inside of a tornado in Kansas with Casey inside.
The Tornado Intercept Vehicle 1 (TIV 1) is a heavily modified 1997 Ford F-Super Duty cab & chassis truck used as a storm chasing platform and built by Sean Casey. This heavily armored vehicle can drive into a weak to relatively strong tornado (EF0 to EF3) to film it and take measurements. Work began on the TIV in 2003 and took around eight months to finish, at a total cost of around US$81,000. 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 1.5 in (38 mm) thick on the windshield and 0.5 in (13 mm) thick on the sides. The TIV weighs approximately 14,000 lb (6,400 kg) fully loaded and is powered by a 7.3 litre Ford Powerstroke turbocharged diesel engine manufactured by Navistar-International, otherwise known as the International T444E. The vehicle's speed was limited by the factory Ford PCM, giving it a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h). The TIV has a fuel capacity of 60 US gallons (230 L), giving it a range of around 500 miles (800 km). The TIV is featured in a series called Storm Chasers which began airing on the Discovery Channel in October 2007. 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. In a June 2011 interview with NPR's All Things Considered, Casey said that TIV is still in service and is designated as the backup vehicle in the event TIV 2 breaks down during a shoot.
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Wikipedia