OCR Text |
Show 4 2C t. Bv 1st Lt. RucmII VVnlniurlnkl Directorate of Maintenance SisiiiSliiiii On Aug. 31, Capt. Jerry Mayer, the Directorate of Maintenance flight test branch's chief Fighting Falcon pUot, landed 6 number at MacDill AFB, Fla. When the plane was handed back to Tactical Air Command's 62nd Tactical Fighter Training Wing at MacDill, it ended a more than three year effort to get the plane back into service. On March 1 9, 1 903, while involved in ground F-1- 6 F-1- 80-05- aau - J. T 27 r : v F-16- . . . run operations at the Florida base, the engine suddenlyautomatically accelerated to 100 . percent power. The power surge caused the plane to leap its restraining chocks. Before the engine shut off, the runaway fighter damaged another aircraft parked nearby, ran into a drainage ditch and caught fire. Luckily, the aircraft's crew chief escaped. The fighter didn't. The 6 ended up on its belly with the nose and main landing gears collapsed. The fire had claimed the main engine bay and forward intake area. When the aircraft arrived at Hill AFB on Aug. 12, 1983, it was hauled in by truck. At th Directorate off Maintenance, it was the task of aircraft division production branch workers to evaluate and repair the damaged aircraft. They completed the evaluation on March 22, 1984 then began the process of ordering replacement structur's il .x (U.S. Air Force Photos) Before and after number 527 F-1- 6 as it looked after its F-1- accident (above) and after refurbish- ' v. v.:? lip l f ing by (left). "ilT:'i"''l flaperons, leading edge flaps and horizontal stabilizers. In addition the trio restored all hydraulic and pneumatic systems to their original condition. They also performed all the necessary operational checks prior to releasing the aircraft for flight tests. The production phase complete, the "like new" was turned over to the flight test branch. Under the guidance of Larry Bowden and Jim Bidwell, the fuel system, raflight test, workers fine-tune- d dar, fire control and avionics systems. They also installed and did test runs on the engine. Under the direction of Ron Burke and Ted Lewis, sheet metal mechanics replaced the main landing gear bulkheads, aft section bulkheads and engine bay skin. They also replaced the strake (under body fins) leading edges and attached a new nose 6 section. F-1- 6 "Although the engine bay skins and the aft bulkheads required a long lead time to procure, our sheet metal people showed great skill and expertise in restoring the structural integrity of this aircraft," Mr. Burke said. A total of 25 percent of the plane's original sheet metal structure was replaced. 6 electricians Dave Pace, Dave Bauch and Faye Nabor then undertook the difficult task of rewiring the aircraft from nose to tail. About one third of the Falcon's wiring harnesses were replaced equivalent to five miles of wire. F-1- Aircraft mechanic U2ra Walker, Brad Myrup and Carl Ophiekens finished the restoration by replacing the nose and main landing gears, wing ; Finally, the aircraft was roacty for its first flight in almost three years. Maj. Dick Baldwin, then the deputy chief of flight test branch, Hew the first functional check flight. He said, " '527' flew straight and bombed on target, with minimal write-upIt's a tribute to the men and women of the air- s. craft division who put this crash-damag- ed aircraft v';'" back together." A complete weapons systems verification was ac- complished on 527, including weapons air-to-a- ir air-to-a- ir A tocsia front the 20S2nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron, led by TSgt. William Maddox, installed and checked the aircraft's egress system. Finally, a weapons load crew from the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit lent their expertise during the weapons flight test phase of the project. Directorate officials said the restoration was a superb effort by professionals in all phases of repair, checkout and flight validation. Officials said the total cost for the work was less than $1.8 million a significant return on the investment, since a new 6 costs approximately $16 million. F-1- SOFT CONTACTS OmS GOLD Diamond 3crt Vr$ Rif t EYEGLASSES Patlsrrte Only) onus 2CC3 Well Avcraa cry of Uth 6:C3 AJtl. to 6 OFF-srnz- ' mw Ogden, ilHIiBISKSulSlSM f.ti Uiitrtty, CaiKfay torwe$i - workers refueling delivery, intercepts and by Major Baldwin, Maj. T.J. Koch and Captain Mayer to further ensure the aircraft's performance. The aircraft's transformation was a team effort. A team from the directorate's gun and seat repair unit, led by Bob Lewis, installed and tested the aircraft's M61A gun system. Members of the 2849th Munitions Test Squadron provided the munitions. pAVM CKavy Hill CP al components. F-1- ,., c . packing" sr j- - ...just a little about transforming your worn, ring into an exquisite, creation. out-of-da- one-of-a-ki- te nd Remount your diamonds We can remount your diamond and other precious gems Into a shimmering, fresh design.. And we have a new selection of remount styles from which to choose. Now make that dream a reality.... o G EYG6ILASSES eCJTACS "THE NAME SAYS IT ALL!" ALIGRDSA'G BEOT - Locstlcna Throughout ubh end tho United Ststca M1DVALE CGD2W 3735 Well Avo. 561-130- 627-442- 4 On front efth lowest 26 Vcot 7200 South 0 0REW1 1353 South State St. MERL J. RIDING Goldsmiths and Jeweler tnH Credit AvaUlablo 225-850- 0 (Aerow (Jot! off Ctat tt) CALL NOW FOR A NO OSUQATION APPOINTMENT MsX) VISIT US SOON! from Unhrorslty Mall) i 16 South Main o Clearfield, Utah Phone: 825-075- 2 ' |