The Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Test Force pulled an F-16 Fighting Falcon out of a special hangar Feb. 11, marking the culmination of a series of unique tests here.

As a surrogate for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the F-16 was used to test Department of Defense chemical and biological decontamination methods in realistic field conditions -- the first time an entire aircraft has been decontaminated in these conditions.

The goal is to return the aircraft to service quickly, should it ever be exposed to a chemical or biological agent.

"We've taken an old F-16, we've contaminated it with a simulant for chemicals and a simulant for a biological agent and we've practiced these potential decontamination procedures,” said Lt. Col. Ed Cassidy, Joint Strike ITF director.

Otto Zahn, test director for the chemical/biological tests, explained one of the final stages of the testing.

"We laid down chemical on the outside of the aircraft, then we washed it and put it in the hot air decon chamber," he said. "It was there for 10 days at 165 to 185 degrees to weather the simulant off the aircraft."

During the test, lines drew air samples from around the aircraft. Some samples and sent to a laboratory for detailed analysis. Gas chromatographs connected to the chamber alllowed quick analysis of the chemical agents coming off the aircraft.

"For the biological test, we used a simulant for bacterial contamination," Mr. Zahn said. "We put the aircraft in a chamber and filled the environment with 200 to 250 parts per million of vaporized hydrogen peroxide for varying lengths of time to kill the bacteria on the aircraft, without having to subject the maintainers to extraordinary efforts of working on a contaminated aircraft."

Mr. Zahn said both the chemical and biologic simulants are non-pathogenic, non harmful materials, meaning there were no environmental hazards and no danger due to exposure. However, both simulants are more difficult to disperse or kill than chemical or biological warfare agents.

Contractors, other branches of service and allied countries were involved in this phase of the testing.

"The (United Kingdom) has been a really strong partner with us in this particular risk reduction effort," Colonel Cassidy said. "They've got a lot of expertise in decontaminating parts and pieces of airplanes, but this is the first time that a decontamination procedure has been done on this scale, on a full-size airplane."

The team also learned some lessons about the equipment needed for future use of the decontamination method.

"As it turns out, the shelters we were using didn't fare too well in the high winds we have here at Edwards, so we had to make some modifications to the buildings to continue with testing," Colonel Cassidy said.