Unpowered gliders resume flight

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  The 94th Flying Training Squadron here resumed unpowered glider flights June 23.

The flights were suspended in mid-May to “address glider operations guidance shortcomings, and leadership and cultural issues in the squadron,” said Brig. Gen. John Weida, the academy’s acting superintendent.

Officer instructor pilots resumed flying the academy’s TG-10 unmotorized gliders for currency and requalification flying training.

Cadet instructors are scheduled to begin flying June 25, and cadet students will begin flying July 3.

The issues that suspended the flying have been addressed, said officials. New technical orders provide guidance on the operations and maintenance of the TG-10, and preflight and inflight checklists are now in place.

The academy’s TG-14 motorgliders will require further testing before flying operations resume on the type, officials said.

“We have received an approved test plan from the responsible test organization. We obtained the Air Force chief of staff’s tasking order to conduct the test, which will focus on determining takeoff, landing and climb data at our higher elevations,” said Col. Jeffrey Kendall, 34th Operations Group commander.

An amended test plan, now under review, will add crosswind limitations to the testing and evaluation criteria, he said.

The testing unit is the Air Force Flight Test Center’s 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Tests will be conducted here by Air Force test pilots from Edwards, supported by some of the academy’s most experienced officer instructor pilots.

“We will not be flying any training missions in the TG-14s until completion of the tests and receipt of the officially approved technical orders and checklists and test completion,” Kendall said.

The tests completion will determine any necessary changes to operational procedures, preflight and inflight checklists and other aircraft operating and maintenance guidance, he said.

Officials estimate TG-14 motorglider operations will resume in early August.