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Post by Gene on Jun 3, 2018 0:55:47 GMT 9
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Post by Gene on Jun 3, 2018 0:57:24 GMT 9
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Post by Gene on Jun 3, 2018 0:58:36 GMT 9
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator 
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445 
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Post by Bullhunter on Sept 26, 2018 7:04:19 GMT 9
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Post by Mark O on Apr 2, 2024 11:30:38 GMT 9
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Post by LBer1568 on Apr 2, 2024 22:29:43 GMT 9
Mark, back in the late 60's we had a large MA-1 update to Comm/Nav and at Tyndall we had MA-1 techs fly backseat in B Models to do better airborne validation of systems. We had a Major Williams do most of the FCF and I was able to fly several times. He had a standard finish to each FCF. He would go inverted and do a few G shakes and collect all of the FOD that went on canopy. Back seaters also collected it. After landing he would chase the CC and hit him with the FOD Bag. FOD was, and may still be, a large cause of Aircraft crashes. I remember on one of my flights the throttle stuck near idle. Major had me unbuckle and use my size 12 boots to kick throttle. It broke loose and we returned to base. We had already declared Emergency. Turned out to be one of those ceramic fuses on side panels of cockpit.
It was responsibility of all maintenance troops to ensure no FID or tools left behind. Believe it or not, originally we did not have our tools marked with our last initial and last 4 of SSAN. We also did not account for all tools before leaving A/C. That all changed about 1968/9. When I got to Osan I was issued a new set of tools and we did not use engraving tool to mark them. And it was supper easy to go to tool crib and get new tools, No questions asked.I guess we all learned form others mistakes.
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Post by Mark O on Apr 3, 2024 1:11:29 GMT 9
I guess my best (maybe 2nd best?) FOD story is when I was deployed to Diego Garcia during my KC-135 days. We would have to rotate the aircraft in & out often because of the salt water environment even with a 30-day, fresh water rinse. Anyway, we got a replacement aircraft in one day, and it turned out it was due for a 60-hour engine inspection which we would usually do on night shift. The crew chiefs, and engine troops were getting everything ready including (of course) opening the cowlings. Well, they opened the outboard cowl on the #4 engine, and out drops a 3-cell, Maglite flashlight! One of the guys picked it up, and came into dispatch to tell the Pro Super. Holy moly did it hit the fan!!
The Super grabbed me, and we went out to the jet. He had the crew chief show him where the flashlight landed on the ground when it dropped out of the engine, and had me take photographs of it laying on the ground with the engine in the background. (That's why he had me come with him. I had the nicest camera of anyone there, and it was at night.)
Now here's where it gets weird. The flashlight was etched -- it was USAF property -- but it was NOT from our unit back at Grand Forks AFB. It took us a bit of time, but we discovered it was from the PDM unit at Tinker AFB, OK.
The aircraft had recently returned from depot, and had flown a bit at GF, then they decided to rotate it into Diego Garcia. By the time it landed in the middle of the Indian Ocean to join our deployment, it was ready for a 60-hour. That flashlight had been in the cowling easily for over a month; maybe a bit longer. No one had opened the cowlings at home because they didn't need to. The only time we would open them is for scheduled inspections, a wash, or an unexpected maintenance problem. Oil checks & fills only required opening a small access door. (No damage was found to the engine, or the cowling other than a bit of paint that rubbed off the shelf on the cowl where the flashlight rubbed against it.)
I never did find out what happened to the person that lost that flashlight (most likely a civilian), but I am convinced it was not good!
Mark O
P.S. BTW, if you ever go to Diego Garcia, do NOT mess with the King's chickens! (I'll save that one for later!  ) |
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Post by Mark O on Apr 4, 2024 3:29:46 GMT 9
I want back-pay for my four years at Grand Forks AFB! Ha! Mark O (January, 2005. We had to park on our yards on base so the plows could keep the roads open.)
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