Posted on 12/07/2007 1:53:02 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
12/5/2007 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- The commander of Air Combat Command directed the stand-down Dec. 3 of all ACC F-15 A through D model aircraft until further notice.
The decision follows additional information received from the ongoing investigation of the Nov. 2 F-15C mishap that resulted in the loss of that aircraft.
Gen. John D.W. Corley, ACC commander, also recommended the grounding of all other A through D model aircraft in other Air Force major commands, including those under the operational control of U.S. combatant commanders.
Monday's findings from the accident investigation board indicate that a recently discovered defect may be more extensive and found in more aircraft than initially thought. These findings, based on a metallurgical analysis of the mishap aircraft, continue to focus on the F-15's upper longerons near the canopy of the aircraft. Additional cracks have been discovered in these longerons. The longerons are major structural components that run along the length and side of the aircraft.
Technical experts with the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., are developing a specific inspection technique for the suspect area based on the recent findings. However, unlike previous inspections, the inspected aircraft will not be immediately returned to flight.
The duration of the stand-down is pending. Aircraft will not be returned to operational status until the F-15 A-D model findings and data have been analyzed, required inspections have been accomplished and the necessary repair or mitigation actions have been completed.
Computer simulations have indicated a catastrophic structural failure could result from cracks in the longerons. To date, longeron cracks have been discovered in an additional four aircraft. These aircraft are awaiting further engineering instructions before they are returned to operational status.
Air Combat Command officials continue to work with those in the Air National Guard, the Air Force Reserve and sister major commands in Europe and the Pacific, as well as with joint and coalition partners, to ensure mission coverage.
The stand-down does not affect the F-15E Strike Eagle.
(Courtesy of ACC News Service)
I guess the USAF needs to start ordering F/A-18s?
The 18 has other issues.
No, the 15 is getting old and needs to be replaced - and Congress keeps dicking around with the funding for the replacement F-22.
News came out on 11/28 that F-15 A thru D models would be grounded for inspections, but the announcement this week is much more serious. They won’t be returned to flight status after inspection and serious structural repair instructions are coming.
F-18 has issues of its own. Turns out, the jet only has 1/2 the fatigue life that the Navy thought it did. Surprise surprise, the contractor fudged the results in their reporting to the Navy.
Like it or not, the F22 is going to be slow in production and Congress is not going to buy enough of them fast enough. The F-35 is having some teething problems and will be a bit longer in development before it can be deployed.
The F/A-18, if deployed with he USAF, won’t be as hard used as it would be with the USN - no catapault shots or “controlled crashes” on to a moving deck. Hopefully, it will last a bit longer.
Best of all, its in production, NOW.
Of course, we could always buy some SU-30s...
Good news that the F-15E is not included in this investigation any longer and is free to bomb targets when needed.
OCC,
Do you remember the $&!+ that was given to X-41 as that was being produced? And then it kicked butt in Gulf War I.
I am so tired of weenies in congress slamming good product in the pipeline and also standing behind "toads" that should be canned.
They keep talking about a new bomber, Upgrade the B-1's with new avionic and the engines from the F119 and Upgrade the F-15E's with the F-119 engines as well. Good stop gap measure IMHO.
Some flow control and vibration issues on the wing unless I am mistaken. Watch the lack of vertical pull-ups up vs. the F-16's standing on their tails at airshows. What does that tell you...
LOL
I’d imagine so.
We can fund it with a tax cut.
You are mistaken. Go watch the Blues flying A models for starters.
I somehow doubt that the Blue Angels are flying the current F/A 18 E-F version. I’m not sure which version is supposed to have the fatigue issues, but ... it’s something to consider.
F-16's ( a few)
Venezuela Air Force
Combat aircraft
18 CF-5
18 OV-10
12 Mirage 50, (to be retired)
21 F-16, (10 of them operational)
24 Su-30MKV (similar with MK2 variant) - 14 commissioned (the remaining 10 are scheduled to arrive in 2008)[4]
Yeah but Navy fatigue is different, no? Carrier landings have a heckuva lot more shock & salt air creates more corrosion problems. I would think land-based F-18's would have much longer lifespans. Plus I think we'd be talking about F18-E/F models which are essentially a different aircraft from the F/A-18 A thru C.
It depends. Yes, the load conditions are different for the landing gear and arresting hook for land vs. carrier landings. But pulling 9g in a dogfight is no different for carrier or land-based jets, those cycles add up no matter where you’re landing.
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