US Air Force Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles have been cleared to return to flight. All F-15s had been grounded since the US Air National Guard F-15C crash in Missouri on 2 November caused by suspected structural failure.
The USAF is allowing wings operating the more than 200 newer E-model F-15s to return their aircraft to flying status after completing a so-called "time compliance technical order" (TCTO) inspection. The targeted inspections are a result of preliminary data from the crash site, says the USAF.
© US Air Force
Before returning to flight, the F-15Es must undergo visual and non-destructive inspection of the hydraulic lines, fuselage longerons, and straps and skin panels around the environmental control system bays in the forward fuselage, says the USAF.
The USAF says the TCTO inspection was developed as the result of an engineering analysis conducted after the 2 November crash. An analysis is under way for the older F-15A-Ds, and will result in a similar inspection, says the USAF, but details have yet to be defined.
The F-15A-Ds are expected to remain grounded until after the accident investigation board submits its report, which is due within 30 days of the crash, says the USAF.
The investigation is focusing on the area aft of the cockpit, where the accident F-15 is reported to have separated in flight during one-versus-one air combat training.
F-15E cutaway drawing from Flight's archive © Flight
Israel and Saudi Arabia are expected to follow suit and lift the grounding of their versions of the F-15E, the F-15I and F-15S respectively. Boeing will also be able to resume deliveries of new F-15Ks to South Korea.
Six US senators, meanwhile, have demanded that the US Department of Defense make public the results of three studies that are said to conclude the 183 Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptors planned for the US Air Force are not sufficient.
The USAF is seeking additional funding to buy more F-22s to replace its ageing F-15A-Ds.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
