Members of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in Southwest Asia have reduced by half the time required to swap an engine on E-3 AWACS surveillance aircraft. While it normally takes about 18 hours to remove and replace an E-3 engine, members of the unit have become so adept at the process that they can execute the exchange in less than nine hours. “I have been doing the flight-line-maintenance thing for over 20 years and I can honestly say this has been the best group of maintainers I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with,” said MSgt. Chuck Ratajczyk, 380th EAMXS lead production superintendent, who calls Tinker AFB, Okla., home. (380th AEW report by TSgt. Denise Johnson)
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
