388 



SALVAGE TESTS 



Fig. 



147. Aquanaut P. S. Wells uses the foam-in-salvage gun 

 to foam an aircraft hulk near Sealab II 



quickly and foaming was stopped. The total foaming time (raw materials used) was still short 

 of that which had been calculated to be required to fill the aircraft. 



The hulk was scheduled to be raised on the following day, anchors and all. When surface 

 divers inspected it they found the hulk again on the bottom, again "light and lively." Gear's 

 hoisting wire was attached to the hulk's lifting bridle, and the aircraft with anchor clumps 

 attached was raised and placed on deck. 



Upon inspection of the hulk, it was found that several holes had not been foamed. In partic- 

 ular, the aircraft's air-inlet cowl, in its nose, had been overlooked. This compartment was the 

 largest single compartment in the hulk, and 18-minute hole. Evaluating the quantity of foam 

 applied, and taking into account that the foam itself was of poor quality, it was concluded that 

 each time the hulk floated it was "just" buoyant, and that the amount of positive buoyancy impar- 

 ted was but a small proportion of total weight of either the hulk or the foam applied. Thus, a 

 slight amount of total water absorption could cancel out the positive buoyancy. It may be con- 

 cluded that when using FIS, the total foaming operation (as engineered and planned) must be 

 carried out. So long as the total system— including the buoyant body and its tether and achors— is 



