Aircraft Has Flown Over 10,000 Hours Since 1990
Introduction
In the early hours of the day on January 13th, the aircraft
parking ramp at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan was alive with
activity. Checklists were run, hatches checked, bombs loaded and
missions briefed, as the crew chiefs, support units, and flyers of
F-15E Strike Eagle #89-0487 achieved a milestone 10,000 flying
hours.
#487

F-15E Strike Eagle #89-0487, or "#487" for short, was
commissioned Nov. 13, 1990. It's the first F-15 of any type to
reach 10,000 hours, despite being younger than many F-15A and F-15C
models. During its service, the aircraft participated in operations
Desert Storm, Deliberate Guard, Northern Watch, Southern Watch,
Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom.
The accomplishment of flying more than 10,000 hours was shared
by the entire 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
The 455th EAMXS includes the 335th Expeditionary Aircraft
Maintenance Unit and supporting units. "It has taken more than 21
years of qualified maintenance technicians performing more than one
million hours of inspections and repairs in all types of
environments at home station, depot facilities,(temporary duty
assignment) and (air and space expeditionary force) locations to
ensure aircraft #89-0487 was available to deploy on numerous TDYs
and AEFs," Chief Master Sgt. John Parrott, the 335th EAMU
superintendent said. "It also took careful, timely loading and
maintenance by hundreds of weapons technicians in conjunction with
countless hours of repairs and inspections performed by avionics,
electrical and environmental, engine, fuels, egress, and structural
Airmen."
The current crew chiefs for #487 are all deployed from
Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. They agreed that good
maintenance and support were critical. "This is the squadron flag
ship," said Senior Airman Eric Rock, a 455th EAMS crew chief
assigned to #487. "This accomplishment definitely shows the caliber
of those before us and those who are crewing it now. They are
putting the best and most motivated on the team."
F-15E File Photo

The #487 crew chiefs have been working with the same aircraft
for the past year. Since arriving at Bagram Airfield, the high
demand for the flag ship helped highlight the team cohesion needed
to keep the aircraft mission ready. "When we got here, it was at
8,800 hours," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Forsse, a 455th EAMS crew chief
assigned to #487. "We put 1,200 hours on it in the past three
months. During that time, this aircraft dropped 15 percent of all
bombs deployed in our fleet. To keep it flying at that pace, it was
very important to keep the same crew on it to get to know the
aircraft."
The crew chiefs specifically acknowledged that all of the
support units were integral in reaching the 10,000 flying hours
milestone. "When we have a problem that needs to be fixed by
another shop, they come out quickly for this jet," Forsse said.
"This is the squadron flag ship, so all the shops push to get this
aircraft fixed, armed up and back in the air. Any time we need
something, they are on it."
Lt. Col. David Moeller, the 335th Expeditionary Flying Squadron
commander, is the current weapons systems officer for #487. Moeller
said he fully appreciated the impact of the work done by the F-15E
#487 team. "It's not just about the hours in the sky," Moeller
said. "The maintenance ability to keep this jet flying so it may
support the current fight is amazing. This is 24-hours,
all-weather, operations throughout the (Operation Enduring Freedom)
battlespace. Maintenance, weapons, and all support by the 455th
makes this possible. It was a total team effort."
F-15E #487 is also the only one of its kind to record an air-to-air
kill.