Photo By Senior Airman Caleb Worpel | Danielle McKenzie-Smith, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine bioenvironmental engineer...... read more read more
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USAFSAM is conducting a series of tests to gain a better understanding of the environmental factors pilots, maintainers and any other personnel associated with the F-35A program are exposed to –whether in the air or on the ground.
This was the second time in the past month that team members from USAFSAM visited Luke to perform tests. In late August, the team spent a week performing similar tests focused on heat stress and exposure, specifically for maintainers on the flightline.
The most recent visit was a follow-up to the initial tests as well as an opportunity for new experiments on different variables.
“We are out here to collect baseline data of the air quality to characterize what is exactly in the air,” said Danielle McKenzie-Smith, USAFSAM bioenvironmental engineer. “Collecting baseline data during normal operations gives us a better comparison as we get more in depth with our research. We are testing for chemicals, particle sizes and the distribution of particles in the air to see if Luke and the surrounding region has unique conditions related to these incidents.”
After each F-35 launch, the team checked and downloaded data from several sets of instruments which were strategically placed on the flightline.
“We are trying to focus on creating very robust and strategic sampling plans so that the data we collect is valid,” explained Steele.
The team spent a total of three days collecting samples. Steele explained there is a tentative schedule to continue testing in a multitude of weather conditions into the future.
The 56th Fighter Wing will be home to the largest number of F-35As in the future with 144 on the ramp by 2022. As we build future of airpower through the production of pilots and maintainers, taking care of Airmen is our number one priority.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 10.10.2017 12:11 |
| Story ID: | 249655 |
| Location: | LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Data collection continues to assess flightline environment, by SrA Caleb Worpel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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