Engineers and technicians working the F-15 problem at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center believe variations in thickness of splice joints added to stress on the longerons, leading to cracking, reports Gene Rector of The Telegraph. ALC officials say cracks have been found on both the left and right upper cockpit longerons of eight aircraft. Other possible factors include variations in width down the joint and changes in the canopy sill. They still haven’t ruled out a manufacturing discrepancy, but the eight aircraft are from different production runs. Maintainers must check thickness “at about 90 different locations” on each aircraft, in addition to checking for cracking over about 30 inches of the longeron, according to Col. Stephen Niemantsverdriet, commander of the WRALC’s 880th Sustainment Group.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…