Catapult problems?

[nittany03]

So we've managed to procure a carrier-based aircraft with no existing way of getting its canned engines on board Mom. Brilliant.

 

[Recovering LSO]

So we've managed to procure a carrier-based aircraft with no existing way of getting its canned engines on board Mom. Brilliant.

This topic has been batted around quite a bit in the press (and here at AW). I've spent some time on carriers.... I can't honestly recall an engine getting COD'd aboard. Seen LOTS of engines swapped, but they came from AIMD (i.e., already staged onboard). The one time I saw this option not work, the good folks from DHL hooked it up at next port call.

Of course, one man's experience does not make a rule; however, I think the engine-in-the-can-can't-fit thing is a bit of a red herring.

Anyone else have different experiences? Seen a lot of motors getting flown on and off?

 

[nittany03]

This topic has been batted around quite a bit in the press (and here at AW). I've spent some time on carriers.... I can't honestly recall an engine getting COD'd aboard. Seen LOTS of engines swapped, but they came from AIMD (i.e., already staged onboard). The one time I saw this option not work, the good folks from DHL hooked it up at next port call.

Of course, one man's experience does not make a rule; however, I think the engine-in-the-can-can't-fit thing is a bit of a red herring.

Anyone else have different experiences? Seen a lot of motors getting flown on and off?

I know we talked about this on another thread, and what struck me is just that. That now, if I'm reading the article right, DHL is the only way to get an F-35 motor aboard unless and until they mod the UNREP stations on both involved ships or shanghai a 53. Likewise, the one time I can recall us swapping a motor, we got the replacement from AIMD. But I admittedly never got knee-deep as a DivO into where those big gray cans came from; I was more worried about taking care of the mechs doing the swap.

Anyone ever been a MO who had to do otherwise? Sling-loaded an engine aboard during VERTREP or seen one come on via UNREP?

 

[Recovering LSO]

, if I'm reading the article right, DHL is the only way to get an F-35 motor aboard unless and until they mod the UNREP stations on both involved ships or shanghai a 53.

Or.... You leave home with one or two extra in the bay (AIMD).

 

[Randy Daytona]

Can y'all give us a ballpark idea of the weight? I thought I remembered somewhere around 9k from an earlier thread.

 

[squorch2]

My first cruise (2007) was a VERTREP one on a supply ship, and we slung engines of all kinds every time we came alongside.

 

[CAVU]

Can y'all give us a ballpark idea of the weight? I thought I remembered somewhere around 9k from an earlier thread.

The last number posted in 2010, and there doesn't appear to be any "good" numbers since, is 3750 pounds for the F-135-PW-100 (conventional shore based TO) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_&_Whitney_F135 . Add about 700-900 pounds for a proper navalized shipping container (everything you wanted to know about USAF shipping containers http://www.tinker.af.mil/shared/media/document/afd-061220-061.pdf ). Lot's to consider to protect an engine and its bearings.

 

[robav8r]

When we went to Yuma for our F-35 Dog & Pony show, the squadron CO said there's a reason no one has seen the engine canister. Apparently it's so big that the Prime contractor doesn't want that information out in the public domain. Has ANYONE seen a pic of the engine cannister?

 

[Gatordev]

Good grief, that picture has a high phallic quotient.

 

[Flash]

When we went to Yuma for our F-35 Dog & Pony show, the squadron CO said there's a reason no one has seen the engine canister. Apparently it's so big that the Prime contractor doesn't want that information out in the public domain. Has ANYONE seen a pic of the engine cannister?

Which version? I imagine the B canister is a lot bigger.

After a quick internet search I can't find pics of any engine canisters, for any engine.

 

[wlawr005]

I'd wager that -B engine could be broken down into at least three separate modules/cannisters.

 

[Flash]

I'd wager that -B engine could be broken down into at least three separate modules/cannisters.

That would make sense in a perfect world but this is government procurement we are talking about, sense has nothing to do with it.

I too believe the canister issue is a bit of a red herring, stash a few engines somewhere on the boat like we do now and if you need another pick it up at the next port of call. This is something the JSF critics have latched on to and blown out of proportion but In the overall scheme of things I think it is a relatively minor logistics issue.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Seemed like the -53 was a pretty standard way of getting spare motors on the boat in 5th fleet........maybe not as feasible for our CAG-5 brothers but I don't see this otherwise being a limfac

 

[Recovering LSO]

This is something the JSF critics have latched on to and blown out of proportion but In the overall scheme of things I think it is a relatively minor logistics issue.

And it's not like there aren't enough other stones to be thrown

 

[robav8r]

And it's not like there aren't enough other stones to be thrown

J - you know, I have noticed you have become the AW master of hyperlinked posts