Aging of U.S. Air Force Aircraft

Final Report

Editor: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309059350
eISBN Pdf: 9780309591300
eISBN Epub: 9780309174473
Lloc de publicació: United States
Any de publicació digital: 1997
Mes: Setembre
Pàgines: 125
Idioma: Anglés

Descripció

Many of the aircraft that form the backbone of the U.S. Air Force operational fleet are 25 years old or older. A few of these will be replaced with new aircraft, but many are expected to remain in service an additional 25 years or more. This book provides a strategy to address the technical needs and priorities associated with the Air Force's aging airframe structures. It includes a detailed summary of the structural status of the aging force, identification of key technical issues, recommendations for near-term engineering and management actions, and prioritized near-term and long-term research recommendations.

Aging of U.S. Air Force Aircraft
Copyright
Preface
Contents
Acronyms
Executive Summary
- CONCLUSIONS
  - Safety
  - Economics and Readiness
  - Force Management and Predicted Economic Service Life
  - Future Structural Issues
- RECOMMENDATIONS
  - Near-Term Engineering and Management Tasks
  - Near-Term and Long-Term Research
I PROBLEM DEFINITION AND STATUS OF THE AGING FORCE
- 1 Introduction
  - BACKGROUND
  - STUDY OBJECTIVES
- 2 Aging Aircraft Problem
  - MANAGING THE FORCE STRUCTURE
    - Modernization Planning Process
    - Service Life Projection during Acquisition
    - Postproduction Force Management
  - FUTURE FORCE PROJECTIONS
    - Air Combat Command
    - Air Mobility Command
    - Special Operations Command
    - Air Education and Training Command
  - ASSESSMENT OF THE FORCE STRUCTURAL MANAGEMENT PROCESS
    - Modernization Planning Process
    - Service Life Projection
    - ASIP and Postproduction Force Management
- 3 Current Structural Status of the Aging Force
  - AIR FORCE-SUPPORTED AIRCRAFT
  - CONTRACTOR LOGISTICS-SUPPORTED AIRCRAFT
- 4 Technical Issues and Operational Needs
  - CORROSION
  - STRESS CORROSION CRACKING
  - FATIGUE CRACKING
    - Low-Cycle Fatigue
      - Safety Limit and Economic Life Limit
      - Corrosion Effects on Safety Limits
      - Widespread Fatigue Damage
    - High-Cycle Fatigue
  - NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION
  - STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS
II RECOMMENDED STRATEGY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEAR-TERM AND LONG-TERM RESEARCH
- 5 Engineering and Management Tasks
  - UPDATE OF DURABILITY AND DAMAGE TOLERANCE ASSESSMENTS
    - Air Force-Supported Aircraft
    - Contractor Logistics-Supported Commercial-Derivative Aircraft
  - UPDATE OF FORCE STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE PLANS AND INDIVIDUAL AIRCRAFT TRACKING PROGRAMS
    - Force Structural Maintenance Plan
    - Individual Aircraft Tracking Program
  - STRESS CORROSION CRACKING ASSESSMENTS
  - IMPROVED CORROSION CONTROL PROGRAMS
  - ECONOMIC SERVICE LIFE ESTIMATION
  - CONTINUED ENFORCEMENT OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY PROGRAM
  - TECHNICAL OVERSIGHT AND RETENTION OF TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
  - TECHNOLOGY TRANSITION INTO AGING AIRCRAFT
- 6 Research Recommendations: Fatigue
  - LOW-CYCLE FATIGUE
    - Near-Term Research and Development
    - Long-Term Research and Development
  - HIGH-CYCLE FATIGUE
    - Near-Term Research and Development
    - Long-Term Research and Development
  - CORROSION/ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
    - Near-Term Research and Development
    - Long-Term Research and Development
- 7 Research Recommendations: Corrosion and Stress Corrosion Cracking
  - CORROSION PREVENTION AND CONTROL
    - Near-Term Research and Development
    - Long-Term Research and Development
  - STRESS CORROSION CRACKING
    - Near-Term Research and Development
    - Long-Term Research and Development
- 8 Research Recommendations: Nondestructive Evaluation and Maintenance Technology
  - NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION
    - Near-Term Research and Development
    - Long-Term Research and Development
  - MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
    - Near-Term Research and Development
    - Long-Term Research and Development
- 9 Prioritized Research Recommendations
  - CRITICAL PRIORITIES
  - NEAR-TERM RESEARCH
  - LONG-TERM RESEARCH
- 10 Future Structural Issues: Composite Primary Structures
  - APPLICATIONS AND SERVICE EXPERIENCE
    - Secondary Structures
    - Primary Structures
  - RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LONG-TERM RESEARCH
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
- Appendix A Synopses of Air Force Aging Aircraft Structural Histories
  - AIR MOBILITY COMMAND AIRLIFTER AND TANKER AIRCRAFT
    - C/KC-135
    - C-141B
    - C-5
  - AIR COMBAT COMMAND BOMBER, FIGHTER, AND ATTACK AIRCRAFT
    - B-52H
    - B-1B
    - F-15
    - F-16
    - A-10
  - OTHER AIRCRAFT OF THE AIR COMBAT COMMAND
    - E-3A (AWACS)
    - E-8 (JSTARS)
    - C-130
    - EF-111A
    - U-2
  - AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND AIRCRAFT
    - T-37
    - T-38
- Appendix B Biographical Sketches of Committee Members