SUPERMOD Team updates the Kingsley Fleet

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar | The Kingsley Field SUPERMOD Field team upgrades the Oregon Air National Guard F-15 Eagle, April 27, 2012, at Kingsley Field, Klamath Falls, Ore. The SUPERMOD field team, a VSE contractor field team, is working on the modification and upgrading of the local F-15 fleet, to prepare the jets for future integration with the 5th Generation aircraft.  

KLAMATH FALLS, OR, UNITED STATES

05.06.2012

Story by Airman 1st Class Penny Snoozy 

173rd Fighter Wing

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - As military members, we are provided many of the tools needed to complete our mission. But with constant advances in technology, sometimes these tools become outdated. That’s why the SUPERMOD Field Team came to Kingsley Field in July of 2011.

“The SUPERMOD Field Team, a VSE Contractor Field Team, is working on the modification and upgrading of the local F-15 fleet to prepare the jets for future integration with the 5th Generation aircraft,” says 1st Lt. Eric McDaniel, SUPERMOD project officer-contracting officer representative. This team consists of some familiar faces.

Duffy Meyer, locally retired production superviser, is leading a four-man team, including Jim Edick, former electro-environmental technical sergeant, who is working on the aircraft electronics. Supporting Edick with the electronics is Tyler Zeman, an avionics drill status guardsman, who is additionally the avionics support for the group. Paul Stahla, a cross-country traveling ex-naval flight chief, rounds off the team working on structures of the F-15.

McDaniel said “The team is from a wide variety of backgrounds, but they have come together as [a] team and have created a streamlined and efficient modification team.” This is proven with their ability to turn a jet in a mere six to eight days.

In those few days, SUPERMOD is able to remove the old systems and wiring from the aircraft and replace it with the improved components. These components include an upgrade from a tape recording system, which can be damaged by G-Forces and humid conditions, to a digital video recorder. The DVR is a more dependable and durable alternative to the tapes.

Another improvement is the installation of a Flight Data Recorder, currently a requirement by Congress, which is a better version of the “Black Boxes” used to protect pertinent data from the aircraft. The Flight Data Recorder can provide information about crashes to aid investigations and stores “…F-15 fleet life management capability and supports information for the overall structural integrity program of the F-15’s life” according to McDaniel. Additionally, they are altering the Satellite Communication (SATCOM) wiring. This gives the aircraft compatibility with SATCOM antenna that is capable of communication with other military assets.

The estimated completion of all modifications is coming up soon in July 2012, and Kingsley’s mission, “…to train the best air-to-air combat pilots…” will now have bigger, better, and up-to-date tools to meet this objective.

• Date Taken: 05.06.2012
• Date Posted: 05.06.2012 18:45
• Story ID: 87990
• Location: KLAMATH FALLS, OR, US