A-10 with bullet hole in the underbelly continues operations after remote engineering assessment

A-10 with bullet hole in the underbelly continues operations after remote engineering assessment

By Dario Leone
May 8 2020
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An A-10 Thunderbolt II damaged in a deployed location was quickly returned to service after a remote engineering assessment, while disbursed in response to COVID-19.

An A-10 Thunderbolt II damaged in a deployed location was quickly returned to service after a remote engineering assessment, while disbursed in response to COVID-19.

After a mission, maintenance crews needed to repair battle damage on an A-10 consisting of a bullet hole in the underbelly skin with an unknown exit point for the projectile.

As told by Daryl Mayer, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Public Affairs, in the article A-10 continues operations after engineers assess battlefield repair, despite the challenge of teleworking, an Air Force Life Cycle Management Center team of engineers from the A-10 Division at Hill Air Force Base, Utah was formed to assess the damage.

A-10 with bullet hole in the underbelly continues operations after remote engineering assessment
The A-10 engineering team from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, consisting of (from top left clockwise) Reed Fawcett, 1st Lt. James Zhen, Greg Stowe and Michael Hackett, Jr., met virtually to review data and discuss how to fix an A-10 Thunderbolt II after it had been damaged by small-arms fire.

“The team tested the teleworking capabilities during the previous weeks in anticipation of such an event,” said Pamela Lee, A-10 division chief at Hill AFB. “Because of this preparation, engineering was able to keep the lines of communication open with the unit to support the expedient response to this emergency repair.”

The entire operation was managed by email, file sharing over the global virtual private network, and telephone with none of the team members actually meeting face-to-face. Basically, the team accomplished the mission from their bedrooms, basements and home offices while flattening the virus curve by working from home.

The team lead, Ariane Aniban, directed 1st Lt. James Zhen and Reed Fawcett to develop a plan. They needed more details and directed the maintainers on the ground how to investigate further. After cutting a 3-inch hole in the underbelly, a crack in the structure with three sheared fasteners was found, along with the bullet lodged in the fuel cell cavity floor crack.

A-10 with bullet hole in the underbelly continues operations after remote engineering assessment
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. A-10C Thunderbolt II 355th FW, 354th FS Bulldogs, FS/82-684. Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ – 2015

The engineer team studied the maintainer’s findings, including photos, and directed a plan of action to repair the damage. Once the steps were followed at the site, the package was assessed for airworthiness by Tim Allred and Greg Stowe, who determined the aircraft could safely return to operations.

“The disposition and flight waiver from the chief engineer were then released back to the unit in less than 24 hours,” Lee said. “I’m proud to know our team helped keep this vital aircraft in the air, performing its close-air support mission that is so important to our forces on the ground.”

Upon return to its home station, the aircraft will undergo final repairs.

A-10 Model
This model is available from AirModels – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS.

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force


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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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