Američko ratno vazduhoplovstvo prizemljilo je 82 (od ukupno 157) dvoseda lovca-bombardera F-16D fajting falkon nakon što su otkrivene pukotine na poklopcima pilotske kabine.
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USAF grounds 82 F-16DsMarina Malenic, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
janes.comKey Points
- The USAF has removed more than half of its F-16Ds from flight status for inspection
- The order does not affect the remainder of the 812-aircraft US fleetThe US Air Force (USAF) has grounded 82 of its 157 Lockheed Martin F-16D Fighting Falcon combat aircraft after finding cracks in their canopy sill longeron between the front and rear pilot seats, the USAF said in a statement on 19 August.
Officials ordered inspections of all US F-16Ds after finding the cracks during routine post-flight inspections, it said. The F-16D is the two-seat variant of the F-16 and is primarily used for training.
The F-16D has two cockpits in tandem, equipped with all controls, displays, instruments, avionics, and life support systems required to perform both training and combat missions, according to Jane's All the World's Aircraft .
The Pentagon and F-16 prime contractor Lockheed Martin are now analysing the aircraft's structure and developing repair procedures that will allow the affected aircraft to resume limited operations while a permanent fix is devised, according to the USAF.
"As aircraft accumulate flight hours, cracks develop due to fatigue from sustained operations," Lieutenant Colonel Steve Grotjohn, the deputy chief of the USAF's Weapon System Division, said. "Fortunately, we have a robust maintenance, inspection, and structural integrity programme to discover and repair deficiencies as they occur."
The remainder of the US F-16 fleet, which includes over 800 aircraft, was not affected by the inspection order.
