Technicians at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., are adding steel straps and stronger fittings to the wings of some A-10s to keep them flying while USAF pursues a wing replacement program for 242 thin-skinned Warthogs. David Roe, a structural engineer with the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan, said the work is “beefing up the structure” and should add another 8,000 flying hours. Boeing received a contract in 2007 to begin manufacturing the new wing assemblies, which USAF expects to begin installing in 2011. In late 2008, the service used the 3-D models Boeing developed to engineer the new wings to help resolve immediate wing cracking issues that temporarily grounded much of the fleet. The new work at the AMARG “is an interim fix to keep the A-10s flying while the new wings are being built,” explained Daryl Neel, 309th AMARG center wing shop supervisor. (DOD report by Randy Roughton)
Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2
April 25, 2024
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.