More problems with our aging air fleet?
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A week after lifting a flight ban on more than 400 F-15 fighters, the U.S. Air Force once again grounded most of the fleet because of potential problems that could lead to the planes falling apart in mid-air.
The grounding of the Boeing-made F-15 will not affect air operations in Iraq or Afghanistan because the F-15E flies there, according to Pentagon officials.
The grounding does slightly affect the homeland security operation called “Operation Noble Eagle,” as the Air Force has had to fill gaps with F-16s.
The Air Guard, which did a lot of our ferrying while I was deployed, always pointed out to us that the oldest thing in the air would be the plane. Most of the “lift” fleet that the Air Guard has is circa 1960. It seems to me that some serious upgrades and modernizations are needed in the “lift” fleet, but I didn’t expect the attack planes to start having these kind of systemic technical issues.
Oh yeah… the Oregon Air Guard just started transitioning from the F-15A to the F-15C… and the airframes they are getting are generally in worse shape than the ones they are turning in.
Of interest, they apparently have the first F-15A off the line – or at least the oldest one in service – that they are hoping to donate to the Evergreen Air Museum.
As for the lift fleet, they’ve gotten rid of the C-141′s, the C-130s ought to be H model or above (yeah, that’s getting up there), and haven’t the C-5′s all been updated to the “C-5B” standard?
And the C-17 is a product of the 90s.
Or do they not seem that old… since I’m now officially in my 4th decade?
ALso as noted in The Torch blog and in the Canadian Media a number of Canadian CF-18s were tasked to CONUS defence missions in Alaska and elsewhere under the Norad Treaty to cover the impact of the F-15 grounding
McDonnel Douglas built the F-15.I dont recall exactlly which year Boeing aquired MD but I am sure that production had stopped by then.
A 20 or 30 year old aircraft is not “old” if it has been properly maintained. To many people equate automobiles to aircraft in defining age,yes,a 5 year old car is more than likely old and worn out,
Whiners. The B-52 platform will now be serving us for a good 80 years.
I KNOW WHY THEIR GROUNDED, I WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT MAKES FRACTURE CRITICAL
SRUCTUAL PARTS BULKHEADS, LEADING EDGE
WING SPARS ETC,. & THEIR NOT Q.C. INSPECTED
POINT BEING I SUSPECT THEIR BOGUS…..
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