OT: US F15's GROUNDED

[BBQ]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/05/f15.grounding/index.html

 

:helpsmilie:

[Kusch]

And Japan:

 

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6297555.html

[Sundowner.pl]

Well, it was nearly 27 years old fighter. Even Hornets don't live that long.

[Erdem]

It's clearly undermodelled.

[RvETito]

I hope it won't share the Concorde's destiny, it still has what to give.

[Sundowner.pl]

F-15 is way to valuable to be scraped because of one crash (note that was second in that unit) they'll find the problem and deal with it. The only reason the whole F-15C/E fleet is grounded is because there is suspicion of structural failure, that could be design flaw of a newer component - then all aircrafts have to be modernized, or - more probable a material fatigue... on a 27 year old 9G fighter-only airframe, that would be normal.

[G3]

bit sad for my beloved eagle, at least the pilot was sweet, injured but ok:thumbup:

 

almost 30 yo, hard to believe, time fly's pardon the pun.

[Eagle Driver]

Well, it was nearly 27 years old fighter. Even Hornets don't live that long.

 

Not even Hornets? What are you talking about? I gathered that Hornet has a reputation as an aircraft that can do everything... for about six months. Of COURSE Eagles last longer, they've got a great reputation as a reliable aircraft that's easy to maintain and is always ready for the job at hand. IIRC, the readiness rate for Eagles in the Gulf War went UP a few clicks while others were having the sand picked from their teeth.

Anyway, there is no denying that the birds are getting old, Tomcats were going through great troubles with reliability and they're only two or so years older than the Eagle. Still, I don't worry that it will be decomissioned, USAF plans to keep ~100 upgraded F-15 air-superiority models well into the future.

[Sundowner.pl]

The F/A-18s should be tougher, those were build for spending whole their service time pounding carrier decks in turbulence and corrosive environment. Plus while in the air - because of the 7.5G limiter, and strike/fighter role - they are not stressed so much like the F-15s. Yet take a look at Canadian CF-188, those were put into service in 1984, and after 20 years they need major fuselage overhaul (actually the whole midsection should be replaced).

 

The F-15C in USAF is a pure fighter, if it fly - it fight for most the time, and it does it on the edge, always high AoA, shuffling with throttles, +9Gs - and often, especially in ANG and IAF (high pilot hours per year). The design by itself is maxed out, the top allowed speed is not because of the aerodynamics, not because of the engines... its because the windshield start to melt above 2.3Ma.

 

And this is why that design newer stop to amaze me, this thing serve already twice as long as it should be... and it will stay for few decades ahead.

[Eagle Driver]

Okay, I get it.

Roger that, ignore the first part of my previous rant.

[Weta43]

The F-15C in USAF is a pure fighter, if it fly - it fight for most the time, and it does it on the edge, always high AoA, shuffling with throttles, +9Gs - and often, especially in ANG and IAF

 

Actually - when not in actual combat (which is 99.5 % of their life) the limits on what pilots are allowed to do with them are pretty strict.

(which was one of the lessons to come out of the excercises with the Indian AF - that US restrictions were too severe & were interfering with pilot competence... No discussion about who won, how the rules were skewed etc, etc, but the USAF did publically state that they would be reviewing their restrictions on manuevering during training because Indian pilots had been prepared to carry out manuevers that US pilots were reticent to try )

[Sundowner.pl]

Don't know where your data is, but the exercise with Indian AF were limited almost entirely to BVR engagements, F-15s vs A-50+Su-30+MiG-21 combo. The biggest restriction was - no AWACS support for the US fighters, who were playing the aggressors role, so not much maneuvering (as BFM) there.

 

Take a look how the F-16s are used - for example in ANG units - two weeks of A-A, than two weeks of A-G, and switch. F-15C units - whole month of A-A... than again and again... those birds are more stressed during their flight time, than any other machine in US arsenal, than think about Israelis, who have more flight hours per year.