F-15 longeron repair/replacement

Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:32 pm

This might be jumping the gun a bit, but if/once it's determined that bad longerons are definitely the problem, how major of a maintenance issue would replacement be? I've come across mention of the possibility that not all F-15s would be repaired, is it really that drastic?

Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:30 am

Anything is doable, but may not be economically worthwhile on a high time aircraft. I have seen the operation at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center (overhaul depot) in Georgia where they have a robot to remove the screws that hold the composite wing skins to the metal spars and ribs on the F-15. They remove the wing skins, inspect, and then reassemble.

Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:46 am

Thanks, that makes sense.

I didn't realize F-15s had composite wing skins, I just assumed it was an all-metal bird.

Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:14 am

Some numbers I found in AvWeek:

The Air Force has not decided whether to repair these aircraft or retire them ahead of schedule. Maj. Gen. Thomas Owen, commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga., which oversees F-15 maintenance, says new longerons cost about $10,000 per unit. However, each one will require about $250,000 to install, a large bill for the already cash-strapped Air Force. This also calls into question an earlier plan to upgrade 177 of the most pristine “Golden Eagles” and keep them in service up to two decades beyond current projections.