Eight and Counting

The Air Force has now found eight F-15s with cracks in their upper longerons, the problem identified as the likely cause of the Nov. 2 crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C on Nov. 2. The Air National Guard, which flies some of the oldest F-15s, has five of the eight—four at Oregon’s 173rd Fighter Wing and the fighter from Missouri’s 131st FW. Three belong to active-duty units—two with the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan and one at the 325th FW at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Unit maintainers are continuing to inspect each of the F-15 A-D models, even as the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia is working out new procedures to narrow the focus of future inspections.