Scores of F-15s Likely to Stay Grounded

[unhappycamper]

Scores of F-15s Likely to Stay Grounded
Los Angeles Times | By Julian E. Barnes | January 09, 2008

The Air Force is likely to order dozens of its F-15 fighter jets permanently grounded because of critical structural flaws, significantly reducing the number of planes available to protect the United States, officials said Tuesday.

After one of the fighters broke apart during a simulated dogfight in November, Air Force officials grounded the entire F-15 fleet, nearly 700 planes, fearing such a defect. The newest versions of the fighter jets were allowed to resume flying shortly afterward, but 440 of the older model F-15s have remained out of service.

The Air Force plans to allow about 260 of the remaining grounded planes to return to duty today. About 180 will remain idle because of suspected structural flaws.

"Many of them may never fly again," said a senior Air Force officer. The officer, like others interviewed, spoke on condition of anonymity because results of the investigation were not to be made public until today.

~snip~

The problems with the F-15, Air Force officials argue, have increased the need to buy additional F-22s, a swift and stealthy but expensive new fighter plane.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,159668,00.html?wh=wh



uhc comment: Background info here --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=8740

[IADEMO2004]

1. New flight simulators for grounded planes?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x9552

1 chair and 1 big picture of a runway would do.

[Catch22Dem]

2. The F-15E is no longer grounded

These are E model simulators. The E model was only grounded long enough to NDI then return to service. Those planes are still fairly new. The were just rolling off the assembly line when the first gulf war kicked off. The A/B/C/D models, however are significantly older. The A/B models (mostly at Air Guard units now) came out in the early-mid seventies. The C/D models date from late seventies to early eighties.

[IADEMO2004]

3. Glad to hear that. I feel better now.