F-16 Longeron Cracking

[ORAC]

Isn’t this what has lead to the eventual retirement of the entire F-15C/D fleet?

https://x.com/theaviationist/status/...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A

Canopy Sill Longeron Cracks Caused The Grounding Of 90 USAF F-16s Within The Past Year

https://theaviationist.com/2024/03/1...the-past-year/

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[DogTailRed2]

"In order to tackle the issue, Colorado Air National Guard maintainers of the 140th Maintenance Group has implemented new maintenance practices, led by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Danielle M. Morgan and Tech. Sgt. Taylar M. Reilly, that have allowed the team to complete, locally, repairs on two aircraft experiencing the issue at the same time, that would normally be done at a depot facility, with an extended downtime of the jets."

So the fault is fixable and being repaired, albeit very slowly.

[Jhieminga]

According to the guidance Reilly has received, the depot has an overwhelming workload and is unable to complete these repairs in a timely manner. In addition, other units may not have the in-depth expertise needed for aircraft-specific repairs like this. National Guard members, on the other hand, typically remain in the same career and unit for an extended period, which adds a level of expertise in aircraft-specific maintenance practices.

Interesting observation, so the depots are swamped with work and other units do not appear to have the expertise needed for repairs like this. Looks like this team of maintainers will see a long line of F-16s showing up, all in need of repairs.

[GlobalNav]

Originally Posted by Jhieminga

Interesting observation, so the depots are swamped with work and other units do not appear to have the expertise needed for repairs like this. Looks like this team of maintainers will see a long line of F-16s showing up, all in need of repairs.

And hopefully, a long line of maintainers from other units to be trained on their techniques and multiply the capacity to complete the repairs more quickly.

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by Jhieminga

Interesting observation, so the depots are swamped with work and other units do not appear to have the expertise needed for repairs like this. Looks like this team of maintainers will see a long line of F-16s showing up, all in need of repairs.

My sarcastic observation: the DoD depots have been under resourced since the year of the Great Sequester. (2013)
But that's kind of a "big hand little map" PoV so take it with a grain of salt.
FWIW: the USN started doing some depot level work "on the seawall" a quarter of a century ago, on Seahawk Helicopters.
The program used to be called "SDLM on the Seawall" but I am a few years out of date. I am sure that effort has a new name, if nothing else.

[George Richardson]

We changed a cracked left-hand canopy longeron on a F4M at Holme on Spalding Moor. It was quite an awkward job due to three legged cross section of the longeron. It made a change from removing and repairing centre wing sections. Surely the F16s could be repaired?

[sunnybunny]

Originally Posted by George Richardson

Surely the F16s could be repaired?

Anything can be repaired given the will and funding and resources.

But .....