Mildenhall serves as base for Turkish C-130 engine replacement

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (AFNS) --  A team of 13 Turkish air force mechanics arrived here Aug. 17 to repair one of their C-130s after a maintenance inspection revealed problems with one of the aircraft's engines.

Members of the 100th Maintenance Squadron lent support of its facilities and equipment to the team while they swapped out the airplane's engine.

The engine problem was discovered during a post-flight inspection Aug. 16, and the repair team was flown in the following morning. According to Turkish air force 1st Lt. Mustafa Erbay, the mission the plane was flying was in support of U.S. forces.

Once the logistics of billeting and transportation were taken care of, the aircraft and the maintainers were set up in one of the largest hangars on base, usually reserved for KC-135 Stratotanker maintenance, said 1st Lt. Zach Harris, the 100th MXS Maintenance Flight officer in charge. The lieutenant said the constantly changing English weather could have worked against maintainers attempting to make repairs out in the open air.

In addition to the hangar space where the Turkish maintainers could work without worrying about exposure to the elements, they were allowed use of a crane to lift the crippled aircraft's engine. Because they didn't have a qualified crane operator, members of the 100th MXS aerospace repair and reclamation team, also known as the crash recovery team, stepped in to lend a hand.

Lieutenant Harris said the experience, while mainly observation on the part of the American maintainers, was beneficial for everyone involved, especially the crash recovery team members.

"They were able to get some experience using the crane, which is always useful," he said.

The maintenance required to get the plane working again were routine, and Lieutenant Harris said the Turkish maintainers demonstrated rapid proficiency acquired from years of experience.

During the first day of repairs, the Turkish maintainers removed the prop and engine from the plane and prepared to install a new one, which was flown in with them on a replacement aircraft. That plane was flown out of England by the original aircrew to complete their mission.

Day two saw the replacement engine hung on the C-130 wing and the prop reinstalled, and the third day ended with the engine successfully tested and the airplane restored to flying condition.

Master Sgt. Mike Denoncour, the 100th MXS lead production superintendent, said it felt good to be able to step up and assist an allied country when they needed it.

"That's what NATO's all about," he said.