Half of AF C-130s Remain Grounded

[unhappycamper]

Half of AF C-130s Remain Grounded
March 13, 2009
Macon Telegraph

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE,, Ga. -- About half of the Air Force's C-130 cargo fleet remains grounded as Robins Air Force Base engineers and support teams continue to grapple with suspect upper wing barrel nuts.

Officials in the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Group at Robins issued a worldwide inspection order March 4 after finding five cracked nuts in a C-130H undergoing depot overhaul on base. The order effectively grounded the fleet, including the newest C-130Js, until they were inspected. The nuts and related bolts -- 26 per aircraft -- anchor a rainbow-shaped fitting that holds the wings to the center wing box on the aircraft's main fuselage.

The 330th and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins have worldwide engineering, supply, overhaul and fleet management responsibility for the Lockheed Martin-produced aircraft. The C-130 has been the tactical airlift backbone for the Air Force since it became operational in 1956.

More than 2,000 of them in 70 variants and five basic models have been produced, not only for U.S. forces but for many foreign countries.

With 90 percent of about 600 Air Force aircraft inspected, 266 have been found with three or more suspect nuts.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/half-of-af-c130s-remain-grounded.html?col=1186032369229