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Show HILL TOP TIMES' 16 Page 18 J'y ( rJUSi ' ...r3i z&zx, f l ' - 0 D .At.-.- -- :-r D u .. D D D D D 0 D D D 0 0 D " !! - '""" How good is the Phantom jet? Ask the men who them, flight test experts Maj. Jerry Phelps (left) and - m -;. ; ., y y 1 II I I B EXPERTS fly Col. Oliver Darden (right) discussing the aircraft with Maj. Gen. Robert H. McCutcheon, Ogden AMA commander, Jet "Climi oc By Darlene Galbraith S.I Tribune Correspondent A ground force for the Air Force is working in Utah. Its to keep the Phantoms job flying. The thousands of Utahns are part of the groundwork that is necessary for maintaining air superiority in skills of Southeast Asia. Keeping the fabulous F-- 4 Phantom jet the fighter that is a mainstay of Air Force operations in in combat-read- y Southeast Asia condition a mission for which Utah claim credit. At Hill Air Force Base, is can Power and Skill Og-de- n Air Materiel Area commanded by Maj. Gen. Robert II. McCutcheon provides worldwide management of the 4 weapon system. A total of 31 bases scattered throughout the free world deF-- pends on the Utah base for supporting role it plays. The 4 Phantom II F-- the fighter-bomb- is being er used in ever increasing numbers by the Air Force, Navy and Marines. This jet capable of traveling twice the speed of sound weighs 15 tons and can twin-engi- ne carry terms. rr aloft another 13 tons of fuel and armament. The combination of aircraft power, superior pilot skill and armament make it possible for the F-- 4 to put the MIG out of action but permanently perhaps not before the formidable Phantom has suffered bat- tle damage. But the wounded aircraft will live to fight another day because back at the base the groundwork goes on. These battle-scarre- d veterans as well as planes that require more routine maintenance or modification are channeled to the huge repair hangars at Hill AFB. If possible, the planes are flown here on their own power. If the damage is too extensive, the aircraft may be dismantled, the salvagable sections crated and airlifted to the Utah base aboard cargo planes. Some may be sent by surface carrier if no air space is available. When the F-arrive whether in packages or intact - repairs or reconstruction begin immediately. 4s Test Planes NT W REPAIRMAN pairer Computer of over checks Lloyd Walling re- Main-tenanc- e, test equipment used in checking F-- 4 aircraft components. Most of the planes arrive on the basis of IRAN (inspect and repair as necessary) and a team of specialized technicians using electronic testing equipment goes into action. The test and specialized han- dling equipment required for -- A supersonic MANY HANDS pair hangars. It soon will be F-- Keeps The combination of this wondrous machine and the skilled men who fly it add up to the fact that the air over North Vietnam continues to belong to the United States, not the enemy. When the two famed fighter the F-- 4 Phantom and planes meet in the Soviet MIG 21 deadly combat high in the sky over North Vietnam, it's a test of pilot skill and training, aircraft maneuverability and effectiveness of weapon armament. The F-- 4 generally can convert the fight to its own D .receives a thorough overhaul in Maintenance aircraft back in Southeast Asia as a mainstay of Air Force operations. Maintenance work on the powerful jet engine is done in a separate building by specialized crews. Support of the F-- 4 weapons systems involve? much more than responsibility for maintenance of the aircraft. It includes the sophisticated radar equipment, the photographic equipment used extensively by the reconnaissance model, missiles and armament. Various Roles Different models of toms play a variety of Phan- roles. They fly reconnaissance missions, carry bombs and rockets regular attack missions and stand guard on carriers and airfields as defensive units. They dash in ahead of other aircraft to suppress fire with rockets, bombs on anti-aircra- ft pod-mount- cannons. ed re- - Commbat Ready s At Hill AFB this powerful package of speed, acceleration and sophisticated equipment is stationed at a dock in the repair hangar complex and crews of trained technicians begin the maintenance, modification or the reconstruction. All parts and all components of all systems on the aircraft are checked. Repairs are completed for an average of 40 Phantoms each month. and F-- 4 At night they carry flares as well as ordnance. Their super- personnel designated "depot teams" go wherever the planes whether in Southeast are Asia, Europe, the Far East. If the planes can't come to the base, the base goes to the planes to provide the repairs that will keep the aircraft Support of the weapons is mission a with esystems xtensive and exacting and workers at Hill AFB follow with satisfaction the feats of the supersonic coF-- 4 require-ment- s jet mputerized fighter. They're be part of the proud to op- erationally ready. Whether it's a spare part that is needed,, or the know-hoto install it or equipment for testing Ogden AMA can Hill it. is proud of AFB supply its record of keeping op7 percent erationally ready F-- 4 team. w F-- 4s 75-7- of the time. Back at Bajse Meanwhile back at the base, when repairs are completed the test pilots go into action. They plan at least two flights per aircraft first, a shakedown cruise and second, a cleanup check. Occasionally a more stubborn "bird" may require as many as six or seven test flights before it turns in a performance rating. All worthy of an systems are checked on the aircraft and if defects are found, A-O- K back it goes to the repair hangar for more work. Once a plane has passed its flight test, it is ready to be flown back to its home base for more active duty. - CwJ WOMAN'S WORK repairer Jarman, computer on an eMaintenance, works xpanding static pressure module. The device," name, complicated as its data copart of the central mputer. ior radar and navigational equipment gives them greater accuracy in locating and destroying enemy targets. 1,600 M.P.H Capable of speeds exceeding miles an hour at altitudes' up to 60,000 feet, each Phantom represents an initial investment of 2V2 million dollars. Radar equipment alone adds 1,600 another $289,000 to each plane's value. Actual construction takes place at the McDonnell Douglas Corp. plant in St. Louis, Mo. Once the planes are delivered, their support becomes the prime responsibility of Ogden AMA. the care and feeding of these supersonic giants constitutes This mission does an inventory totaling millions not end mammoth with the repair of dollars. and maintenance. Ogden AMA on-ba- se ' -- f " u An F-- 4 pops its drag JOB'S DONE succes down at Hill AFB. It had undergone a west of Great Salt Lake. - noch ght testing I I I |