ALL F-15s grounded! (again)

Fox News | 11/28/07 | nully

[null and void]

All models A-E, F's still allowed to fly.

Cracks, causing crashes.

[null and void]

Update. Fox still treating it as new, major structural cracks in ‘rails supporting the fuselage’. Relating back to incident earlier this month when front/cockpit fell of a bird in flight.

[af_vet_rr]

I’m not saying it’s a conspiracy theory, but this is pretty convenient given that the F-22s and F-35s are about to start coming online or will be in the next year or so... ;-) (had to be tinfoilish to add some humor to the situation).

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you Lecie.

Check out the link at post 15 and see if it gels with your take on things. It may or it may not, just for reference purposes only.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1931772/posts?page=15#15

[Lecie]

Thanks. The last I heard was what I posted, that the older planes remained grounded.

[null and void]

And very few F-22’s at that...

[michigander]

Despite stand down, CONR fighters remain on alert

2007-11-28 12:26:00
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE –

Despite a second fleet-wide stand down of A through D model F-15s, Continental US NORAD Region fighters remain on alert.

“Our Air Sovereignty Alert and Operation NOBLE EAGLE alert missions utilize various aircraft, including F-16s, so we can maintain our alerts and launch as necessary,” said Maj Gen Hank Morrow, 1st Air Force commander.

“We are supporting Air Combat Command as they work with various Air Force agencies to bring the F-15 fleet back to flying status as quickly as possible. Until then, we remain on duty protecting our homeland,” he said.

Air Combat Command commander, Gen. John D.W. Corley, directed the stand-down of all ACC F-15 A through D model aircraft, following recent findings in the Nov. 2 F-15C mishap that now require additional inspections and possible repair actions.

ACC recommends the stand-down of all other similar model aircraft in other Air Force major commands, including those under the operational control of U.S. combatant commanders.

The findings indicate possible fleet-wide airworthiness problems with F-15A/B/C and D aircraft. These findings, based on a metallurgical analysis of the mishap aircraft, have drawn the attention of ACC to the F-15's upper longerons near the canopy of the aircraft that appear to have cracked and failed. The longerons are the specific metal rails that hold the fuselage of the aircraft together.

This stand-down is pending the completion of all necessary repair actions. Although the longeron area was covered in general by previous inspections as a result of the Nov. 2 mishap, technical experts with the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, assisting in the Accident Investigation Board, have recommended a specific inspection of the suspect area based on the recent findings. Manufacturer simulations have indicated a catastrophic failure could result in this particular area.

Based on this most recent data, the Air Force believes it is prudent to stand-down F-15 A-D aircraft until such time each aircraft can receive a more detailed and tailored inspection of the upper longerons along the focus area.

Air Combat Command continues to work with Air National Guard, Reserve and major commands in Europe and the Pacific and our joint and coalition partners to ensure mission coverage. The stand-down does not affect the F-15E.

[Lecie]

You're quite welcomed. I was taken by surprise by the urgency of the posting when these planes had been grounded earlier this month. And thanks to everyone for the updates.

[NorthOf45]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1931781/posts

[Steelerfan]

So it is a second stand down. Wonder what new information they found?

Thanks for confirming, and thanks null for pointing this out.

[null and void]

Thanks!

[michigander]

;-)

[LasVegasMac]

And very few F-22’s at that...

Yea, they still owe us a bunch of F-22's.........

[Larry Lucido]

ALL F-15s grounded!

Do they have to stay in their rooms? Can they play Nintendo?

[null and void]

Yes. NO!

[Larry Lucido]

I caught one playing FlightSim online.

[UNGN]

I saw my first F-22 flying a CAP over Washington DC this Thanksgiving morning as I waited in line at the Washington Monument so at least we have a few other planes to back up the grounded F-15’s.

[STD]

Wow, I’ve never seen one in flight. Except for stories on the Military Channel. Which I love to watch BTW. One of our church elders is a former AF General who flew them all including the F-15E Strike Eagle. I asked him about what he thought about fighting in the F-15. He says that the only aircraft that was even remotely pilot friendly was the F-16. Everything else was too difficult, challenging and or distracting to fly.

[UNGN]

Wow, I’ve never seen one in flight.

It surprised the heck out of me. I was looking up at the Washington monument and it flew right over it. It's hard to judge altitude but I'll guess somewhere between 5 and 10 thousand feet.

I told my 8 year old son, "Look, an F-22!"

By the time I heard it, I couldn't see it well enough to identify it anymore or tell from the sound where it was, so I got lucky to see it.

[B4Ranch]

See post #26 “second fleet-wide stand down”

Do you live in a cave?

[A.A. Cunningham]

F-15 A-D models ordered to stand down for additional inspections

An F-15 Eagle flies over the Pacific during Valiant Shield Aug. 9. The directive follows Nov. 27 findings stemming from the investigation of an F-15C mishap that resulted in the loss of that aircraft on Nov. 2 . Based on those new findings, all F-15 A through D models will undergo a stand down that will require additional inspections and possible repair actions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Miranda Moorer)

11/28/2007 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va (AFPN) -- For the second time this month, the commander of Air Combat Command has directed a fleet-wide inspection of all ACC F-15 A through D model aircraft. 

The directive follows Nov. 27 findings stemming from the investigation of an F-15C mishap that resulted in the loss of that aircraft on Nov. 2 . Based on those new findings, all F-15 A through D models will undergo a stand down that will require additional inspections and possible repair actions. 

Gen. John D.W. Corley, ACC commander, also recommended the stand-down of all other similar model aircraft in other Air Force major commands, including those under the operational control of U.S. combatant commanders. 

The new findings from the Accident Investigation Board indicate possible fleet-wide airworthiness problems with F-15A/B/C and D aircraft. These findings, based on a metallurgical analysis of the mishap aircraft, have drawn attention to the F-15's upper longerons near the canopy of the aircraft that appear to have cracked and failed. The longerons are major structural components that run along the length and side of the aircraft. 

Although the longeron area was covered in general by previous inspections as a result of the Nov. 2 mishap, technical experts with the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia, are recommending a specific inspection technique for the suspect area based on the yesterday's findings.

Manufacturer simulations have indicated a catastrophic failure could result in this particular area. In addition, cracks were discovered along the same longeron area during two recent inspections of F-15C aircraft. These aircraft were immediately grounded based upon the inspection findings and are awaiting further engineering instructions. 

Based on this most recent data, ACC believes it is necessary to stand-down the F-15 A through D aircraft until such time each aircraft can receive a more detailed and tailored inspection of the upper longerons in the focus area. 

Air Combat Command continues to work with the Air National Guard, the Air Force Reserve and sister major commands in Europe and the Pacific, as well as joint and coalition partners, to ensure mission coverage. 

The stand-down does not affect the F-15E. The duration of the stand-down is pending the completion of required inspections and any necessary repair actions. 

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