Sun, Jan 27, 2013
Replacement Of Some 1,440 Engines Planned In Upgrade Program
Some decades-old KC-135 Stratotankers are drinking from the fountain of youth -- or at least the engines are. Airmen installed the first of 1,440 upgraded Stratotanker engines at MacDill Air Force Base, Fl, Jan. 15. The 1970s engine parts will be replaced with modern engines that burn less fuel and run longer without repairs, officials said.
"We expect the engine to stay on wing for 20-plus years and take the KC-135 into retirement," said Senior Master Sgt. Dong Kim, Air Mobility Command's propulsion branch chief.
Mounting the CFM Propulsion Upgrade Program on KC-135 and Navy E-6B Mercury culminates almost three years of work between Air Mobility Command, Air Force Material Command, the Navy and the original equipment manufacturer, CFM International. The C-PUP engine delivered to MacDill AFB is the first of 15 that will be delivered by General Electric Aviation under an F108 engine augmentation contract.
The refurbished engines upgrade the high pressure compressor and turbine sections of the KC-135's F108 engine, a military variant of the CFM56-2 engine. More than half of the engines on the KC-135 have not seen depot rework since they were initially installed; some dating back to 1984.
The engine depot at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex expects to deliver the first organically produced C-PUP engine later this year and is planning to produce 120 annually. The upgrade effort is projected to take 12 years to complete and will affect 1,440 engines, according to officials.
ANN salutes Maj. Mark Blumke Air Mobility Command Directorate of Logistics.
(KC-135 pictured in USAF file photo)
More News
Aero Linx: Model Aeronautical Association of Australia MAAA clubs are about fun flying, camaraderie and community. For over 75 years, the MAAA has been Australia’s largest fl>[...]
Touchdown Zone Lighting Two rows of transverse light bars located symmetrically about the runway centerline normally at 100 foot intervals. The basic system extends 3,000 feet alon>[...]
“Discovery and innovation are central to our mission at Virgin Galactic. We’re excited to build on our successful record of facilitating scientific experiments in subor>[...]
How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]
Student Pilot Reported That During Rotation, “All Of A Sudden The Back Of The Plane Kicked To The Right..." Analysis: The student pilot reported that during rotation, “>[...]