In accordance with the tcto, indepth visual and modified nondestructive inspections of the wing box are being conducted on affected ch and jmodel aircraft that have not received the extended service life center wing box and have greater than 15,000 equivalent flight hours. However, even if the center wing box was a solid block of titanum or even \unobtanium\, c missions and crews would find a way to impose fatigue into the structurenothing is perfect except this web sitethanks, casey. The upper and lower rainbow fittings on the c connect the outer wings with the center wing box, which sits over the fuselage. Cracks found in air national guard c wing parts prompt. Air force grounds more than 100 of c aircraft after. Cracks found in air national guard c wing parts prompt partial. Jun 18, 2008 c hercules the c is a 4 engine tactical transport aircraft built by lockheed that over the years has become the principle tactical airlift platform for militaries worldwide. The center wing box structure is then disassembled in order to. In order to detect the existence of cracks in the rainbow fittings so that they can be repaired, implementation of labor intensive eddy current. Figure 4 from air force c rainbow fitting diagnostic. A threephase project is under way at warner robins air logistics center, robins air force base, ga. Nov 15, 2006 workers guide the center wing box as it is lifted from a c hercules.
Aug 08, 2019 the cracks on the lower center wing joint were discovered on an air national guard c hmodel at robins air force base, ga. Us air force pauses flight ops for more than a hundred cs over. More than a quarter of c hercules in service at air mobility command. Air force grounds more than 100 c aircraft over wing crack. View entire discussion 344 comments more posts from the videos community. It included all c models except the jmodel, the newest model in the fleet. In a c it sits atop the fuselage and forms the attachment point for both wings. Air force c rainbow fitting diagnostic technology development. Other smaller fatigue cracks were also found along the parting line on the lower. Mar 08, 2008 in the past few years, many c aircraft have developed fatigue cracks in the center wing box rainbow fittings.
Pdf air force c rainbow fitting diagnostic technology. Outer wingbox of c center wing box research showed that the center wing box cwb is the largest driver in maintenance costs. Maryanne miller, the air mobility command commander, ordered the temporary removal of 123 of 450 total force c hercules from service on aug. In 2006, the air force began replacing center wing boxes on c s after the boxes began showing cracks earlier than expected. Boeing announces c total life extension program jul 19. The structural configuration of the c center wing box is illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. A cj taxis on the flightline at little rock air force base, ark. Northrop grumman offers c center wing box restoration. Aug 10, 2019 of those, five met the requirements for the temporary grounding because they lack an extended service life center wing box and had accumulated 15,000 equivalent flight hours, said col. Cs in the us inventory in particular have been under intense utilization by all services as the number of engagements, small wars and insurgencies not to. Workers guide the center wing box as it is lifted from a c hercules. Aug 05, 2014 the air force is extending the service life of its fleet of c combat delivery aircraft by replacing center wing. C hercules the c is a 4 engine tactical transport aircraft built by lockheed that over the years has become the principle tactical airlift platform for militaries worldwide. In the past few years, many c aircraft have developed fatigue cracks in the center wing box rainbow fittings.
C rainbow fitting inspections near completion air force. Little rock afb is home to the largest c fleet in the world. Amc c rainbow fitting inspections complete edwards air. Aug 21, 2019 in accordance with the tcto, indepth visual and modified nondestructive inspections of the wing box are being conducted on affected c h and jmodel aircraft that have not received the extended service life center wing box and have greater than 15,000 equivalent flight hours. In addition, the center wing box cwb structure, which is common to both the c and sof ci. Aug 08, 2019 air force grounds more than 100 c aircraft over wing crack worries. The c system program office at robins air force base, ga recommended the grounding after inspections of the center wing box structure, which sits atop the fuselage and forms the attachment point for both wings and all four engines, revealed cracks. These cracks can be a significant flight safety risk, when the damage is extensive. As a result, members of the 402nd aircraft maintenance group have removed the center wing box from aircraft 831212 and will replace it with a new center wing box as part of the first step in. Aug 08, 2019 indepth visual and modified nondestructive inspections of the wing box will be conducted on affected c h and jmodel aircraft that have not received the extended service life center wing box and have greater than 15,000 equivalent flight hours. Wouldnt surprise me one bit this acft had wing box cracks undetected. Air force grounds more than 100 c aircraft over wing crack worries.
The cnsatm upgrade will allow the c fleet to be deployed worldwide. The cracks on the lower center wing joint were discovered on an air national guard c hmodel at robins air force base, ga. After atypical cracks were discovered on the lower center wing joint or rainbow fitting during programmed depot maintenance. Air force for decades and is projected to continue to accrue flight hours for years to come as a highly capable platform utilized for numerous mission profiles. Usaf pulls onefourth of cs to inspect for cracks air. Miller suspended c operations for 123 of the 450 total force c hercules aircraft following the discovery of cracks in the rainbow fitting that holds the. A c deployed from the montana air national guards 120th airlift wing sits on the ramp as the sun sets at ali al salem air base, kuwait, on july 29, 2019. The air combat commander removed 123 of 450 c aircraft from service aug. Amc c rainbow fitting inspections complete scott air. Usaf pulls onefourth of cs to inspect for cracks air force. Air force grounds 123 c hercules aircraft after cracked wings. A failure of the wing box during flight could be catastrophic.
Center wing inspections for fatigue cracking, have captured our attention as. The structural configuration of the c center wing box is illustrated in figures. Amc c rainbow fitting inspections complete air force. Indepth visual and modified nondestructive inspections of the wing box will be conducted on affected ch and jmodel aircraft that have not received the extended service life center wing box and have greater than 15,000 equivalent. Aug 08, 2019 more than a quarter of c hercules in service at air mobility command will be temporarily grounded. As a result, members of the 402nd aircraft maintenance group have removed the center wing box from aircraft 831212 and will replace it with a new center wing box as part of the first step in addressing the problem. The c upper and lower rainbow fittings provide the structural connection support between the aircraft center wing box and the outer wing as shown in figure 1.
Advanced technology center wing box concemual despgnicost study. The c basic fuel system has required no major modifications to resolve safety concerns. More than a quarter of c hercules in service at air mobility command will be temporarily grounded. The upper surface of the wing box is composed of four panels. In accordance with the tcto, indepth visual and modified nondestructive inspections of the wing box are being conducted on affected c h and. In accordance with the tcto, indepth visual and modified nondestructive inspections of the wing box are being conducted on affected ch and. A c j taxis on the flightline at little rock air force base, ark. A redesign of the cwb is therefore a bare essential in the life extension program. Aug 21, 2019 miller suspended c operations for 123 of the 450 total force c hercules aircraft following the discovery of cracks in the rainbow fitting that holds the inner and outer wing sections together.
Gross dimensions of the center wing box are 440 inches span, 80 inches chord, and 32 inches depth. Nov 15, 2006 center wing boxes on c s have been showing cracks earlier than expected. Figure 9 from air force c rainbow fitting diagnostic. These cracks can be a significant flight safety risk, when the damage. I have to say here, that i really, really believe that there are many improvements designed into the new center wing box. Center wing boxes on c s have been showing cracks earlier than expected. Air logistics center upgrades center wing boxes on cs u. Atypical cracks were discovered on the lower center wing joint. Of those, five met the requirements for the temporary grounding because they lack an extended service life center wing box and had accumulated 15,000 equivalent flight hours, said. Maryanna miller ordered 123 of the 450 total force c hercules aircraft to undergo inspection after cracking was found on the lower center wing joint, also known. Other smaller fatigue cracks were also found along the parting line on the lower wing skin. In the mid2000s, center wing boxes cwb on c s began showing cracks earlier than expected. In 2006, the air force began replacing center wing boxes on cs after the boxes began showing cracks earlier than expected.
One commonality c owners may face is the center wing box issue. Nov 16, 2006 center wing boxes on c s have been showing cracks earlier than expected. Miller suspended c operations for 123 of the 450 total force c hercules aircraft following the discovery of cracks in the rainbow fitting that holds the inner and outer wing sections together. The air force is extending the service life of its fleet of c combat delivery aircraft by replacing center wing. Maryanne miller, air mobility command commander, ordered the temporary removal of 123 of 450 total force c hercules from service on aug. Us air force pauses flight ops for more than a hundred cs. Air force grounds more than 100 c aircraft over wing. The reduced service life of the sof c airframe can be attributed to two primary factors, these are. Oct 22, 2007 i have to say here, that i really, really believe that there are many improvements designed into the new center wing box. In the mid2000s, center wing boxes cwb on cs began showing cracks earlier than expected. Wing box replacements in the usfs cs fire aviation.
Cracks found in c wing parts prompt partial grounding. Northrop grumman ng, chalet cd01 technology services is offering legacy c hercules operators a center wing box cwb restoration solution. Jan 11, 2014 a wing box is the core or backbone of an aircraft. The replacement program was to ensure the viability of the c hercules fleet through 2030 and beyond, the air force said.
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