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Flight Test: certifying AMARC aircraft to fly

  • Published
  • By Rob Raine
  • Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFMCNS) --  Ask most people to describe the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center in one word, and they'll say 'Boneyard.' Many of them don't realize that historically, more than one fifth of AMARC's stored aircraft fly again. In the past two years, more than 120 aircraft returned to flying status from the Center.

Although private contractors refurbish some of these aircraft, AMARC regenerates the majority including F-4s destined for the Air Force's full-scale aerial target program and Navy P-3 Orions intended for the foreign military sales program. Additionally, AMARC upgrades A-10s under the service life extension program.

Each AMARC-regenerated or upgraded aircraft must demonstrate an ability to fly safely and accomplish its mission before returning to the operational fleet.

Accomplishing that squadron-sized mission falls to the three-member AMARC Flight Test Team, Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Jon Wendell, Rick Nelson, and Rene Martinez.

"Rene is the weight and balance authority for all AMARC aircraft," Colonel Wendell said. "Rick is also a weight and balance qualified technician. On all return-to-fly aircraft they either weigh each aircraft and do the balance calculations, or make sure the aircraft weight and balance records are accurate."

Colonel Wendell and Mr. Nelson fly all the AMARC-regenerated F-4s and RF-4s.

"We're the crash test dummies in the sky," Colonel Wendell said with a wry smile.

The FCF profile for F-4s includes a Mach run, usually in excess of 1.5 times the speed of sound, and a zoom climb to almost 50,000 feet.

Because the regenerated F-4s have not flown for 12-15 years, having two people in the aircraft during the test missions is essential, according to Colonel Wendell.

An invaluable member of the team, Mr. Nelson operates important circuit breakers and switches that the pilot does not have in front. Additionally he runs through critical checklists when Colonel Wendell has his hands full flying the aircraft during in-flight emergencies.

"Rick is the last F-4 back-seater (GIB - Guy in Back, pitter, WSO or Weapon Systems Operator) still flying F-4s in the entire Air Force," said Colonel Wendell, who is, himself one of only two pilots in the entire Air Force qualified in the F-4 functional check flight (FCF) mission. Only about 6 military and 6 civilian pilots still fly the F-4.

In addition to the F-4s, AMARC's Flight Test Team also coordinates functional check flights for other aircraft regenerated by the Center including P-3s and A-10s. Several FCF-certified pilots from 355th Wing perform the test flights on A-10s as those aircraft complete their service life extensions. P-3 pilots usually come from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

No matter the aircraft type, the Flight Test Team coordinates for qualified FCF crews from around the country to fly the check flights. They ensure guest flight crews have appropriate qualifications for the mission, provide them with a local area and mission profile briefing, make available required local maps and flying aids, and help with their flight plans.

The team also coordinates delivery of regenerated aircraft. They deliver F-4s in the full-scale aerial target program from AMARC to BAE systems in Mojave, Calif., for installation of their radio-control package. P-3s destined for foreign military sale complete their FCFs and fly to Greenville, Texas, according to Tim Horn, director of the Navy Field Service Office at AMARC. Once at Greenville the Orions undergo additional upgrades from L-3 Corp to meet customer specifications.