Mountain Home F-15Cs Cleared For Flying Status

Published Jan. 9, 2008

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Air Combat Command cleared a portion of its F-15 A-D model aircraft for flying status Jan. 8, including 15 of 20 F-15C Eagles assigned to Mountain Home AFB's 390th Fighter Squadron.

The return to fly order follows engineering risk assessments and data received from multiple fleet-wide inspections. It applies only to those F-15 aircraft that have cleared all inspections and have met longeron manufacturing specifications - about 60 percent of the total Air Force F-15 A-D fleet.

The order and recommendation follows more than two months of stand-down actions after an Air National Guard F-15C aircraft experienced catastrophic structural failure and broke apart in flight during a basic fighter maneuver training sortie in Missouri on Nov. 2. The Nov. 27 stand-down did not affect the F-15E Strike Eagle, including 52 F-15Es flown by Mountain Home AFB's 389th and 391st Fighter Squadrons.

"The priority in resuming operations for a portion of the F-15 fleet is the defense of our nation -- America deserves nothing less," said General John D.W. Corley, Air Combat Command commander. "Aircraft inspection results and counsel from both military and industry experts have made me confident in the safety of a portion of the fleet. As a result, I have cleared those F-15s to return to fly."

The Jan. 8 decision follows detailed information briefed Jan. 4 to Air Combat Command from the Air Force's F-15 Systems Program Manager, senior engineers from Boeing and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, as well as a briefing received today from the Accident Investigation Board president.

The information included an analysis of the health of the Air Force's F-15 fleet from findings from the Nov. 2 mishap investigation, maintenance inspections and actions completed and taken to date as well as historical science and engineering trend data from F-15 fleet management.

Air Force inspections are more than 90 percent complete. Remaining inspections have primarily focused on the forward longerons. The longerons are a critical support component running along the length and side of the aircraft.

Time Compliance Technical Order inspections have discovered nine other aircraft with longeron fatigue-cracks. Additionally, approximately 40 percent of inspected aircraft have at least one longeron that does not meet blueprint specifications. Of the five Mountain Home AFB F-15Cs not cleared for flight, three do not meet specifications and two are still being inspected.

Deviations in these longerons will be analyzed at the WR-ALC. The analysis is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete. Once the analysis is complete, ACC will be able to better determine which aircraft will need further inspection, or repair, before returning them to flight.

Further questions can be directed to the Mountain Home AFB Public Affairs office at 208-828-6800 or after hours through the Public Affairs on-call cell phone at 208-599-4212.

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Mountain Home F-15Cs Cleared For Flying Status

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