Most popular posts August 2015

1.) Urgent request for maintenance work on US Marshals aircraft - The Federal Aviation Administration, Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Group, issued an urgent requirement in August to establish a contract with a qualified vendor to perform heavy maintenance inspections on aircraft used to transport prisoners. [Full story] 

 

2.) Seven new airtankers planned for US Forest Service - The U.S. Forest Service is contemplating acquiring up to seven new production commercial aircraft to serve in a multi-mission capacity. [Full story] 

 

3.) Retired F-15 jet going on display at Joint Base Lewis McChord - The U.S. military plans to relocate, paint, and assemble a retired F-15 fighter jet from Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., to Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash., and place the aircraft on static display. [Full story] 

4.) NASA: Cracks found in SOFIA aircraft engines - NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California has a requirement for repair of two Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7 engines which have been removed from the aircraft and preserved with Mobil AVREX M-Turbo gas turbine lubricant. [Full story]

5.) UH-1N Replacement Program meeting this month - The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, held an Industry Day meeting in August to provide details on the planned replacement of the Air Force's fleet of UH-1N aircraft. [Full story]

Retired F-15 jet going on display at Joint Base Lewis McChord

The U.S. military plans to relocate, paint, and assemble a retired F-15 fighter jet (serial# 76-0116) from Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., to Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash., and place the aircraft on static display, according to contract documents released Thursday.

“All work must be complete by Nov.16,” the military said. “A final acceptance inspection will be conducted by the Western Air Defense Sector technical representative upon notice of completion by the contractor and prior to final payment.”

Companies interested in supporting the project are invited to submit questions to the Contracting Officer in writing by Aug. 20. Price quotes for the work must be submitted and received no later than Aug. 26, the military said.

Most popular posts August 2014

1.) Cirrus aircraft crashes off Virginia in Atlantic Ocean - The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of a Cirrus SR22 into the Atlantic Ocean about 50 miles from Wallops Island, Va., on Saturday. [Full story]

2.) Military C-130 'hard landing' reported, no injuries - A Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) aircraft under the control of U.S. Northern Command experienced a hard landing on Aug. 17 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. [Full story]

3.) Cessna aircraft down near Bahamas, Coast Guard responds - U.S. Coast Guard seach-and-rescue crews responded Aug. 18 to a downed Cessna aircraft with four people aboard in the vicinity of Freeport Bahamas Airport, Bahamas. [Full story] 

4.) Coast Guard ends search for Cirrus pilot in Atlantic Ocean - The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search at 11:30 a.m. EDT Sunday for the pilot of a plane that crashed Saturday approximately 51 miles southeast of Chincoteague Island. [Full story] 

5.) Pilot fatally injured in F-15 crash - Officials confirmed Thursday the pilot of a F-15C Eagle was fatally injured when his jet crashed near Deerfield Valley, Va., on Wednesday. [Full story]

Pilot fatally injured in F-15 crash

Officials confirmed Thursday the pilot of a F-15C Eagle was fatally injured when his jet crashed near Deerfield Valley, Va., on Wednesday.

The pilot's name is being withheld pending notification of family members and will be released when appropriate.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and we are doing all we can to support them during this very difficult time," said Air Force Col. James Keefe, commander, 104th Fighter Wing. "We ask that everyone respect the privacy of the family and allow them the time they need to grieve.”

An official safety board is being convened and the investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Background

At approximately 9:05 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Washington Center Air Traffic Control in Washington, D.C. lost radio contact with the F-15C aircraft stationed at the 104th Fighter Wing, Mass., and at approximately 9:30 a.m. the 104th Fighter Wing learned that the aircraft had crashed in a remote site near Deerfield Valley, Va.

The single seat F-15C aircraft was en route to Naval Air Station New Orleans to receive a radar system upgrade. There were no munitions on the aircraft during this flight. The pilot was flying a solo mission when he reported an in-flight emergency prior to the loss of radio contact with Washington Center.

F-15 fighter jet goes down over Shenandoah Valley

At approximately 9:05 a.m. EDT Wednesday the 104th Fighter Wing lost radio contact with an F-15C aircraft during a cross country mission over the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, the Air National Guard said in a press statement.

The pilot flying the F-15C made a report of an inflight emergency prior to radio contact being lost. Subsequently there were reports of dark smoke being seen around the aircraft at its last known location. Local law enforcement arrived on scene and confirmed the aircraft crashed.

"Information on this incident is developing rapidly and we are not going to speculate on what occurred or the status of the pilot", said Air Force Col. James Keefe, 104th Fighter Wing Commander. "We are hopeful that the pilot is ok, and the pilot will be in our thoughts and prayers as the events of this incident unfold."

The F-15C aircraft was in route to receive a system upgrade, and there were no munitions on the aircraft during this cross-country trip.

At this point the status of the pilot is not confirmed.