[joe fonebone]

The term "hangar queen" reminds me of the late 70's, when you had to keep an aircraft in the hangar to scavange for parts to fix the rest, compliments of Mr. Jimmah carter........

[Grut]

The term "hangar queen" reminds me of the late 70's, when you had to keep an aircraft in the hangar to scavange for parts to fix the rest...

Technically, those were 'can birds' (short for cannibalization), although hangar queens usually were the major donors. And let's not forget that the 'hollow force' of the late 70s existed with the (usual) complicity of the top brass, who had gotten where they were by being enthusiastic about the program -- whatever the program might be.

[johnny7]

I lived in an apartment complex that would scavenge one apartment to fix another... it had a whole section devoted to welfare recipients and was owned by a bank.

Bizzaro-world.

[txroadhawg]

"The term "hangar queen" reminds me of the late 70's, when you had to keep an aircraft in the hangar to scavange for parts to fix the rest, compliments of Mr. Jimmah carter........

We called those 'Can Birds' for cannibalized. Good source of parts but first come first served. They were usually in depot maint. so they had access to all new replacement parts, us flight line pukes had to scavenge. Again thanks to Jimmy Cater, the root of all evil in the world today.

[Myrddin]

The term "hangar queen" reminds me of the late 70's, when you had to keep an aircraft in the hangar to scavange for parts to fix the rest, compliments of Mr. Jimmah carter........

Hangar queen is the common term for an aircraft cannibalized for parts to repair others. Especially in the case of aircraft out of production. Replacement parts can be difficult or impossible to find. The phrase has been borrowed by others who face a similar problem with other types of equipment. Jaguar cars are a common example.

[kAcknor]

The term "hangar queen" reminds me of the late 70's, when you had to keep an aircraft in the hangar to scavange for parts to fix the rest, compliments of Mr. Jimmah carter....

I remember the late 1970's from a European Cold War perspective.

75 F-15's and a 45% FMC goal. To the non AF types that means we tried to keep 45% of them ready at any one time. This number dropped to 23% to 30% after a day's normal training flights. No parts. No money. No one cared. Add to that the war game scenario's (Exercises) we practiced always ended with us launching the remaining aircraft to the rear and we were to destroy the base, and then surrender for a nice vacation in Siberia (and that was the lucky option).

Jimmy Carter was President and his policies were at fault.

When Clinton was elected I retired, because I just could not do it again.

[usmcobra]

Tell me about it. I was once the "King of the Cannibals" for my ability to keep the paperwork correct and flowing from aircraft to aircraft to aircraft to aircraft....

[DakotaRed]

Scavenging, or cannibalization as we called it, was a way of life for us in Viet Nam. As one LOH was pulled in for maintenance, a lot of parts were transferred to the one ready to go out.

If one were shot down and anything was still usable, it was stripped and parts kept hidden for when we needed the part.

[Jack Deth]

My AF Reserve Unit had the same experience recycled in the 1990s, thanks to Bill and Hill. Whenever one of our eight C-141s broke hard, it immediately became the Auxillary Cann Bird to augment the Primary Cann Bird, which was in for Isochronal (Phase) Inspection.

My Unit's Maintenance Section spent more time "Canning" (Cannibalizing... Taking) parts from one plane, than installing those parts on another.

Don't even get me started on Overall Unit Funding.

Jack.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Sobering to figure that a single aircraft (which can be brought down by a single missile or AA-gun hit, regardless of stealth) costs more than an entire destroyer.

Yes, they are stealthy. But too expensive to be worth more of them.

A goldplated wing would be cheaper than reputtying the wing after every flight: they should accept the stealth penalty and use a few (plastic) rivets and panels instead of their magic rubber coating. Put the stealth material inside the plastic panel then, in the panels that must be replaced each time.

Let the permanent ones be fully sealed and completely stealthy.