Support to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex is primarily for programmed depot maintenance for aircraft and engines and is available around the clock.
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Lowe.DLA Distribution Oklahoma City provides a full range of distribution services in support of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, Tinker Air Force Base tenants, and other global customers.Ĭore services include receiving, storage, packaging, and issue of military supplies. “This aircraft will be important to train for advanced repair techniques and as an engineering test aid for form, fit, and function of future modifications and structural repairs,” said Col. Following the 20 minutes-long half-mile trip, the wings “were manually brought forward one at a time using only a cordless drill, which took about 5 minutes per wing”, instead of the usual 10 seconds when done in flight.Įven if now retired, “Spectre” will still perform, within the Expeditionary Depot Maintenance Flight, an important mission that will be advantage of the entire B-1B fleet.
The bomber’s wings were kept in their swept position to keep the aircraft’s footprint as narrow as possible, with two counterweights, each weighing 2,640 pounds, suspended from the forward section of the aircraft to preserve the balance as it was towed. A number of road signs, poles and a power line had to be temporarily removed to give the aircraft an unobstructed path. According to the press release, for the aircraft to safely leave the flight line and travel to its new home, two temporary gravel ramps were constructed. So, after 12,136 flying hours and almost three years after that inflight emergency, “Spectre” left the flight line for the last time following its divesture which saw the removal of its engines, certain avionics and other equipment not essential for its new mission. “Despite all of the work, the aircraft was selected for retirement, but it will be a welcome addition to the ABDR program.” Greg Lowe, 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group commander. “The artisans of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex repaired the damaged nacelle, replaced the ejection system, and performed both the Integrated Battle Station modification and a full Programmed Depot Maintenance overhaul,” said Col. These bombers had experienced significant structural fatigue, with cracks appearing in highly stressed structural components joining the wings to the fuselage, which would have required each ten to thirty million dollars for the repairs. It seems however that there was a change of plans, as the aircraft was included in the 17 B-1Bs with the least amount of usable life that have been marked for early retirement to allow the Air Force to prioritize the health of the fleet. Aircraft 86-109, known as “Spectre,” is being retired from active service but will continue as a maintenance trainer for the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group’s Expeditionary Depot Maintenance flight, allowing technicians and engineers to practice aircraft battle damage repair. A B-1B Lancer aircraft is towed down Patrol Road Apat Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. At that time, the press release said that “Spectre” was to “undergo depot maintenance and upgrades at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, be quality tested by the 10th FLTS, and be returned to the Dyess AFB B-1B Lancer fleet upon completion”. The crew had to fly the “Bone” on just three engines without raising the landing gear and without sweeping the wings for the entirety of the flight. by an Air Force Reserve crew from the 10th Flight Test Squadron. The four crew members have been later awarded the Air Force’s Distinguished Flying Cross.Īt the end of October 2018, the damaged B-1B was flown to Tinker A.F.B. However, when the Offensive Systems Operator’s ejection seat failed to leave the plane successfully, the aircraft commander ordered the crew to immediately stop the escape procedure and diverted to Midland International Air and Space Port near Odessa, Texas, still on fire with a missing hatch, no cockpit pressurization and an armed ejection seat that could fire at any moment, performing a successful emergency landing without injury or further damage to the aircraft.
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