AEDC test personnel see their work in action

  • Published
  • By Deidre Ortiz
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  Four AEDC test personnel took the opportunity to join AEDC Aeropropulsion Branch Deputy for Operations, John Kelly on his latest trip to Toledo, Ohio, to see the F-16 Fighting Falcon operations.

In addition to his work at AEDC, Kelly was an F-16 crew chief at the Ohio Air National Guard (ANG), 180th Fighter Wing.

Kelly said since he's worked at AEDC he's invited several aeropropulsion ground test personnel to visit the unit and see firsthand how the work at the Complex "supports the warfighter." On this trip were 1st Lt. Benjamin Hoff, 1st Lt. Michael Parmentier, Kyle Todd and Rich Walker.

"The visit provides the chance to experience real world flightline operations," Kelly said.

The 180th Fighter Wing flies and maintains F-16 Fighting Falcons, which uses an F100-PW-229, an engine that has undergone accelerated mission testing at AEDC, with more than 10,000 test hours in the sea level (SL) test facilities alone. The F100 recently accomplished a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), which was validated in the Complex's SL-3 test cell. The 180th Fighter wing was the first operational unit to receive a SLEP F100.

"Our mission is to support the warfighter and a lot of our personnel never get the opportunity to see these jets in person and see them fly, let alone actually touch the jet and hear the crew chief and pilot during their pre-flight checks," Kelly said.

Todd agreed that the trip is not one he'd soon forget.

"Observing the flight line operations of an F-16 fighter wing was a unique experience that few engineers get the opportunity to see. It was extremely insightful to learn from the user how they operate and maintain the engines we develop here at AEDC and the issues they encounter in the field."

In addition to seeing the aircraft in flight, the group also toured the unit's engine shop, where they saw engines being torn down, inspected, repaired and tested in the field.

Walker, a test manager for the Engine Test Facility at AEDC, stated the best part was to "see how what we test here is used by the people in the field who need it to work."

"Their enthusiasm was awesome, and it was great to speak with those men and women whose job it is to defend our country with the equipment we are developing here," he added.

After 28 years of service, Kelly retired from the Air National Guard as a chief master sergeant, which he notes made this particular trip that much more memorable.

"I was especially glad the guys got to be there for that," Kelly said.

Walker said it was also an honor for the group to witness the ceremony and the "respect [the unit] showed for John."

Kelly said he's proud to have been a part of the 180th Fighter Wing, which is a very active ANG unit supporting overseas contingencies, homeland security and a leader in total force integration. Kelly himself has been deployed three times, once to Qatar and twice to Iraq for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Now that he won't be required to make the monthly trips to Toledo, he reflected on his years in the ANG and how it has impacted his career at AEDC.

"It was really cool to start as an F-16 mechanic and now working here as a test engineer developing new systems," Kelly said. "I've been able to see the full acquisition lifecycle of a weapon system. It's always been great to see how being part of the ANG and my position here were complimentary to each other."