Today is Friday, May 18, 2012
Today is Friday, May 18, 2012
A green and brown object is currently lurking in the back of the school, and it’s the first of its kind on campus.
The school’s autoshop recently got a hold of a HMMWV, a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle. The car was donated from BAE Industries. The HMMWV was used as a replacement for the Jeep during World War II.
The HMMWV is informally named “Holly the HMMWV,” but its army name is the M998. Made in 1986 by AM General, it weighs 7,700 pounds, can tow 3,450 pounds, and maxes out at 55 mph.
Autoshop teacher Greg Ely says that autoshop will be using Holly to “learn about diesel and four wheel drive.”
“It’s hard to understand how a diesel engine works when you can’t see it,” Ely said. “By actually having a functional one, the kids can mess around with it and learn.”
After being decommissioned, the car went to the National Guard and was sold to BAE Industries for electronics testing. Ely said the company used to put radios and guns inside the car, and then tested the electronics in hot weather.
When autoshop first received her, Holly wasn’t in working condition. Students cleaned it up, got it running, and Ely said they “hope to paint and clean it up and then drive it in a parade.”
The HMMWV stands unique because, according to history teacher Stefaan Lodge, a HMMWV is “soldier proof.” Essentially, the HMMWV is an extremely sturdy vehicle. It has high ground clearance, and can go over virtually any terrain.
The car consists of several unique features. The back of the car is sloped so that the exhaust from any machine guns that are placed on the turret ring gun mount will slide down the car instead of burning a hole. Additionally, the car boasts a shield on its antenna, as well as four hooks on every side of the car; these hooks allow the car to be treated as cargo.
“I’m very excited to work on Holly because it’s a military vehicle, which is very different from a regular car,” said junior Josh Tabula. “It helps me get closer to the class because [of] how fricken cool the thing is.”
