The fine folks at the 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group from Warner Robins Air Logistics Center are playing a major role in keeping Marine Corps and Navy Legacy Hornets in the fight. The ALC is producing wing spars for the F/A-18 Hornet, which comes at critical time for these aircraft. The vast majority of Hornets have been around for more than two decades. Inter-service jokes and cracks aside, the USAF assisting in keeping their Department of the Navy counterparts in the game is the most important thing.
Ensuring safe, reliable components are available to support the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Legacy Hornet was the focus of a partnership celebration Tuesday at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex’s 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group.
Officials from Naval Supply Systems Command and Naval Air Systems Command, as well as industry officials from NORDAM – a global aerospace manufacturing and repair company – toured several repair lines in Bldg. 140.
A Legacy Hornet from VFA-113 departs Eielson Air Force Base during a Red Flag-Alaska exercise. (Photo by Jonathan Derden)
They learned how the Air Logistics Center manufactures the Navy’s much-needed F/A-18 outer wing spars through a partnership agreement with NORDAM, who supports the aircraft’s wing repair lines.
The successful production of the first order of 10 forward spars for the aircraft’s outer wing panels, completed this past March, means the Navy’s fleet of Legacy Hornets can continue to fly sorties downrange after what has been a particularly mission-heavy season.
In high demand of these key internal structural components are the forward and aft spars, according to NORDAM, an approved commercial repair source for Legacy Hornet outer wing panels.
Because the all-weather attack aircraft, flown by the Navy and Marine Corps, is currently being flown significantly beyond its originally forecast life due to mission requirements, it was experiencing significant corrosion and fatigue issues in its outer and inner wing panels.
NORDAM approached the ALC to assist with manufacture requirements of the wing spars, and a public-private partnership agreement was signed in 2014. The implementation agreement was signed in June 2015, and the first order of outer wing spars arrived here in August 2015. Additional orders are being worked.
Cue the rivalry comments in 3, 2, 1…..
The original article can be read in its entirety at Warner Robins AFB’s website right here.
(Featured Photo by Scott Wolff)