Posted on: 15 January 1997
Last updated on: 15 January 1997

A TYPICAL SR-71 MAINTENANCE PROCESS:

What follows is the typical maintenance sequence of events each SR-71 must go through to fly a routine 1989 photo reconnaissance mission. Some acronyms may not be familiar, but youíll get the jest of how much work is actually involved to get one of these off the ground. Also included are many of the recovery functions performed after each flight. These tasks can and are performed at a greatly accelerated pace when less advanced notice is given, and especially during aircraft generation exercises. Keep in mind, this is based on AF maintenance personnel, not civilian contract maintenance.

0900 MISSION NOTIFICATION: TAKE OFF 0415 HRS.

0900 - 0930 TEB serviced.

0930 - 1000 LOX system serviced.

1000 - 1400 APG PR inspection performed.

1030 - 1100 IFF Mode 4 is keyed for flight.

1100 - 1300 Photo shop uploads and checks OBC and TEOC cameras.

1200 - 1600 EWS shop uploads and checks DEF systems.

1300 - 1330 DMRS is checked and pre flighted.

1400 - 1600 PR discrepancies are repaired, and the aircraft is paneled up.

1400 - 1430 Aircraft drag chute is installed and checked.

1600 - 1700 The aircraft fuel system is serviced for flight.

1700 - 1730 Aircraft landing gear struts are set for flight.

1700 - 1730 Weight and balance is computed and the RHSO and Mode Select are set.

1700 - 1730 ANS configuration is performed.

1730 - 1830 DAFCS/Auto Pilot pre flight is accomplished.

1830 - 1900 Batteries are installed, and electrical system pre flight is accomplished.

1900 - 2000 Aircraft wheel brake check is accomplished.

2000 - 2100 Aircraft's hydraulic system and accumulators are serviced.

2000 - 2030 Mission map projectors are installed.

2030 - 2100 Autopilot/SLR/INS interface performed.

2100 - 2200 Aircraft tires are serviced for flight.

2200 Electrical power applied to maintain temperature for TEOCs.

2300 - 2345 Communications system pre flight is performed.

0005 - 0200 Aircraft panel inspection is performed.

0005 - 0325 Heat is applied to engines if the temperature is below 70F.

0115 - 0145 Crew Brief: The crew chief meets with the aircrew to review the aircraft forms, verify weight and balance requirements and settings, verify mission equipment uploads, and to review the aircraft's previous maintenance history.

0115 - 0215 LN2 system purge and environmental pre flight performed.

0200 - 0230 Cockpit seat packs are installed.

0230 - 0300 Final cockpit inspection performed, and canopies and windscreen cleaned.

0230 - 0300 Final tire servicing check is accomplished.

0230 - 0315 LN2 is serviced.

0245 - 0300 NLG is lubricated.

0300 - 0315 Circuit breakers in C Bay are set, and bay is closed.

0300 - 0315 Aircraft covers are removed.

0300 - 0330 Engine inlets are inspected.

0315 - 0330 All maintenance tools are inventoried.

0315 - 0330 Aircraft forms are reviewed and the Exceptional Release is signed.

0315 - 0330 Mobile aircrew arrives, and sets up the cockpits for flight.

0315 - 0330 All camera covers (except OBC) are removed.

0325 - 0330 The aircrew arrives and enters the cockpits.

0330 - 0400 LAUNCH SEQUENCE BEGINS;

0400 - 0405 AIRCRAFT TAXIS TO HAMMERHEAD.

0404 - 0412 END OF RUNWAY CHECKS PERFORMED;

0412 - 0414 AIRCRAFT TAXIS TO RUNWAY.

0415 ONE BLACKBIRD IN THE SKY!

1030 AIRCRAFT LANDS.

1030 - 1038 Aircraft taxis to hanger.

1038 - 1040 Aircraft is marshaled into hanger.

1040 - 1050 AIRCRAFT RECOVERY CHECKS BEGIN;

1050 - 1055 Aircrew exits the cockpits.

1055 - 1100 Aircrew performs a preliminary debriefing of the aircraft's status.

1100 - 1130 Seat packs are removed.

1100 - 1200 All mission equipment is removed from the aircraft for data retrieval.

1100 - 1130 Engine JOAP samples are taken.

1100 - 1130 Aircraft ADS's are serviced.

1130 - 1200 Engine oil systems are serviced.

1130 - 1200 DMRS tapes are downloaded.

1130 - 1200 Mission map projectors are removed.

1130 - 1200 ANS/INS system post flight inspection is accomplished.

1130 - 1200 Formal debriefing is accomplished.

1200 - 1225 Aircraft is towed into correct hangering position.

1225 - 1230 Aircraft tires are inspected.

1230 - 1330 Aircraft circuit breakers are set for ground power application.

1230 - 1330 Aircraft is de-paneled for post flight inspections.

1330 - 1730 APG BPO inspection is accomplished.

1330 - 1530 Engine post flight inspections are accomplished.

1330 - 1400 Aircraft batteries are removed.

1330 - 1400 DAFCS post flight inspection is accomplished.

1730 - ???? Aircraft discrepancies and maintenance problems are in work.


Introduction     Acronyms & Abbreviations     SR-71 Maintenance     A Typical SR-71 Maintenance Process

SR-71 Deactivation     The U-2 World     War Stories     SR-71 vs U-2     Conclusion     My Biography



© Christopher W. Bennett



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