Technical Services - Spring 2008 - (Page 10)

lc o e Life CyCLe OptimizatiOn and engineering Warner Robins Regional Service Center Provides Tremendous Value to Air Logistics Center (RAFB) in Georgia recently undertook a missioncritical task to reproduce replacement longerons for grounded F-15 aircraft. Technical Services’ Fleet Depot Maintenance team members at Warner Robins supported the Air Force in this chal1 T he 573rd Manufacturing Squadron at Robins Air Force Base “The last longeron part was produced in 1986,” said Jim Briley, a TS team member heavily involved with the project. “This made our task difficult in that no 3-D technical part data existed, and we had no one to contact for past lessons learned.” The team began by converting the F-15 blueprints to a 3-D computer model. Eventually they were able to rapidly manufacture a test part. To perform this type of computer-aided design manufacturing in such a short timeframe, Briley teamed with a government employee and worked many 10-hour shifts, seven days a week, until the modeling and design was ready for upload to a machine capable of manufacturing the part. lenging effort, accomplishing the mission in less than 45 days—an amazing feat considering the numerous obstacles they encountered. Air Force management stated that if the part had been designed and produced by any other source, the mission would not have been accomplished six to eight weeks ahead of normal schedule. The RAFB team was tasked to produce an initial order total of 15 longerons: 10 for the left side of the aircraft and five for the right. “Because this work was completed in such a timely manner, a lot more of our aircraft will soon be back in the fleet defending our nation,” said Barney Chandler, programming chief, U.S. Air Force. “I thank Northrop Grumman for their support.” The Northrop Grumman TS team at Warner Robins has also supported the Air Force with an important horizontal stabilizer project on the C-5 aircraft. TS team member Ben Hart was instrumental in the C-5 effort. TS team member Jim Briley poses with a newly manufactured longeron. T S An F-15 flying above the Nevada desert. Approximately one-third of the Air Force’s F-15 fleet models A-D (161 aircraft) were found to have cracks and noncompliant cockpit longerons following a Nov.2, 2007, F-15 crash of a Missouri ANG F-15C. Accident investigations concluded that a cracked cockpit longeron was responsible for the failure. 10 Technical Services Magazine • Spring 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technical Services - Spring 2008

Technical Services - Spring 2008 Contents President's Column New Business Wins Sierra Vista, Arizona Military Weapon Systems Support Operation Achieves ISO 9001:2000 FSS Supports Navy in Hot Spots Lake Charles Maintenance and Modification Center Tanker Win a "Game Changer" Warner Robins Regional Service Center NY Labs Keep Aircraft Mission Ready TS Team Helps People Reach the 'American Dream' NSTec Brings NNSA Green Construction Project on Time, Under Budget SGS Team Member Takes on New Challenges at Cape Canaveral; Fort Leavenworth Team Members Help Local Youth NSROC Helps Students Shoulder to Shoulder BCTB Program Wins Prestigious DoD Award TS Instructors Prepare Warfighters for Combat I'm In! TS Team Members Sharpen Skills Through Advanced Training and Career-Broadening Opportunities OpenLine; Fort Leavenworth Team Members Honored

Technical Services - Spring 2008

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