Inside the F-16 line at the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill Air Force Base, where a single work package can run from 60 days to well over a year, and where a civilian flight test team signs the release before any jet flies again.
Part I:
Part II:
Part III:
Part IV:
Part V:
Today we discuss what happens when an F-16 leaves the flight line and heads to depot. Access inside the hangar where airframes come apart down to the wings, the tail and the gun, then go back together and fly again.
Covered in this episode: why a major modification cannot be done at home station, how the depot builds a work package that runs anywhere from 60 days for paint to well over a year for a full teardown, how often a given tail cycles back through, and what the flight test team does before anyone signs an aircraft out for its functional check flight, including full afterburner runs in the tie-down facility.
Also in this one: the gun pulled and laid out beside its own jet, and tail 91-376, an airframe with a lot of Viper Demo Team hours on it, sitting on jacks with the wings off.
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0:00 The Anatomy of an F-16 Depot Overhaul
0:55 Meet the Flight Test Supervisor
2:00 Why F-16s Need Deep Depot Maintenance
4:14 The Art of the Possible: Planning the Visit
8:19 From Bare Metal Back to the Skies
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That is crazy it takes 540 days. A year and half to not build a plane up to just update it. Thank god we are no5 a war with a true pier country.
To me the best machine of all times.
It's pretty cool seeing a couple of aircraft from my unit here. Can't wait for them to come home!
I find it interesting that you openly admit that your mechanics are expected to be pigeonholed into specific roles. At the Navy depots, we are working towards a complete multi-trade mechanic mentality.
I recently found out a friend of mine's father was a USAF test pilot. He did the flight testing on the F-16 and flew the pre-production F-16's. The F-16 on static display at the USAF Academy FSD-4 was one that he flew.
That second guy is one of those guys that says “right” after a sentence or two.
These videos are great Rain. Glad you got to meet up with one of your former rides
No wonder these jets have been doing it for nearly 50 years. These folks are great at what they do. Love this kind of content. Great job.
MRO – Maintenance Repair Overhaul
This is an indictment on this country’s leadership who hasn’t purchased a new F-16 or F-15 since 2005. With the exception of a few F-15EX
And don’t blame Trump. Obama and Bush worked the fleet hard and bounced. A majority of our aircraft were ordered during the Regan administration
Urgent care for vipers😊
Thanks for the information about the Depot program. Can you give an example of non-contracted maintenance and explain how it would be managed?
That's not true, I can take one apart. Back together is another story.
Can't wait for part V.
Great vid!!!! I was a C-130 Load master and have done some FCF flights. It definitely gets your attention. I've been on pick up flights from Hayes/pemco depot where we received new wings. Cool stuff.
Is there still a future for the F-16?
"Sweet 16"
Good old Depot,
Naw I'm good😂😂😂😂
Great video, John!