Heavy rains in Israel suddenly revealed the lack of drainage in the airforce hangers, and the F16s engines are probably going to need a rebuild after that
Ah com'on! That's just stupid. Those guys should have moved them to higher grounds. Unless they had the intake and exhaust openings sealed off from the rising waters.
Thanks! Of those 3 sources I have linked, only one mentioned a model, and they said F15. Of course, they were wrong. But there weren't many online sources even showing photos. I'll get that corrected right now
Once read an autobiography of a former IAF pilot, who described pretty much the same situation. At least the personnel, pilots and mechanics alike, got their F-4 Phantoms pushed out of harms way just in time. Could be the same hangars for all I know.
There's a lot of finger pointing going on. The IDFAF is saying they weren't notified of the circumstances in time to get all of their aircraft to higher ground, and that they don't have the means to improve the drainage in the hangar areas, whilst the civilian agencies are saying the IDF should have been better prepared for this scenario in as much as it has happened before. It was a flash flood, yet all but 8 aircraft were moved and were safe. Five are expected to be up and flying in a few weeks, three are heavily damaged. It isn't just the engines, they can be taken out and rebuilt; its every bit of electronics, environmental systems, egress systems, pneudraulics, the structures have to be thoroughly cleaned to prevent corrosion and contamination (flood water is typically kinda nasty around industrial areas) mold, etc. Its a massive cock-up for all concerned. Rather like the situation at Eglin AFB when Hurricane Michael tore up several F-22's. The Air Force brass had to admit that the reason those VERY expensive airplanes were hangared in the path of a hurricane was because they were out of service due to a shortage in parts due to inadequate funding. The truth is the grounded aircraft were being cannibalized to keep the others flying. Mother nature stepped in and shed the light on some very poor management.
fingerpointing indeed. Desk bound bureaucrats trying to escape the blame. How about they simply have pumps, big ones, brought in during flash flood conditions (rare) ready to dewater by quick connecting to big pipes that drain, and disperse. The pump gets rented nice and fast during flash flood events, and quickly towed to where the pipes are permanently affixed for draining the hangers, and badaboom, badabing, presto the hangers do not accumulate enough water to damage jet planes! Too simple? Like you said, it's happened before, and I think we can assume it will happen again. Wow, I hadn't heard about the Elgin AFB issue showing what a logistical foul up they had with repair parts, or budgets, to keep their planes airworthy. Thanks!
It is fairly simple in comparison to the cost of sending 3 F-16's to depot for inspection and repair. The IDFAF is cya'ing big time when they say they don't have the ability to put drainage systems into their parking areas. That's all a part of base maintenance and falls on the base commander. Putting in a drainage channel that runs to a containment area is nothing in the big scheme of things. Bet your ass they'll be getting one now! The F-22 issue was particularly bad because the structure of the air frame has a lot of composites, and you have to do some careful inspections to make sure you're getting all of the damage corrected. They also have radar absorbent materials involved as well, so its not like the old days where you cut out a damaged piece of aluminum and installed a patch. FWIW, the IDFAF is getting F-35's so who knows, they may scrap the 3 F-16's rather than rebuilding them since they're going to be replaced in a few years anyway.
Ah com'on! That's just stupid. Those guys should have moved them to higher grounds. Unless they had the intake and exhaust openings sealed off from the rising waters.
ReplyDeleteF-16;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Of those 3 sources I have linked, only one mentioned a model, and they said F15. Of course, they were wrong.
DeleteBut there weren't many online sources even showing photos.
I'll get that corrected right now
Once read an autobiography of a former IAF pilot, who described pretty much the same situation. At least the personnel, pilots and mechanics alike, got their F-4 Phantoms pushed out of harms way just in time. Could be the same hangars for all I know.
ReplyDelete$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of finger pointing going on. The IDFAF is saying they weren't notified of the circumstances in time to get all of their aircraft to higher ground, and that they don't have the means to improve the drainage in the hangar areas, whilst the civilian agencies are saying the IDF should have been better prepared for this scenario in as much as it has happened before. It was a flash flood, yet all but 8 aircraft were moved and were safe. Five are expected to be up and flying in a few weeks, three are heavily damaged. It isn't just the engines, they can be taken out and rebuilt; its every bit of electronics, environmental systems, egress systems, pneudraulics, the structures have to be thoroughly cleaned to prevent corrosion and contamination (flood water is typically kinda nasty around industrial areas) mold, etc. Its a massive cock-up for all concerned. Rather like the situation at Eglin AFB when Hurricane Michael tore up several F-22's. The Air Force brass had to admit that the reason those VERY expensive airplanes were hangared in the path of a hurricane was because they were out of service due to a shortage in parts due to inadequate funding. The truth is the grounded aircraft were being cannibalized to keep the others flying. Mother nature stepped in and shed the light on some very poor management.
ReplyDeletefingerpointing indeed. Desk bound bureaucrats trying to escape the blame. How about they simply have pumps, big ones, brought in during flash flood conditions (rare) ready to dewater by quick connecting to big pipes that drain, and disperse. The pump gets rented nice and fast during flash flood events, and quickly towed to where the pipes are permanently affixed for draining the hangers, and badaboom, badabing, presto the hangers do not accumulate enough water to damage jet planes!
DeleteToo simple?
Like you said, it's happened before, and I think we can assume it will happen again.
Wow, I hadn't heard about the Elgin AFB issue showing what a logistical foul up they had with repair parts, or budgets, to keep their planes airworthy.
Thanks!
It is fairly simple in comparison to the cost of sending 3 F-16's to depot for inspection and repair. The IDFAF is cya'ing big time when they say they don't have the ability to put drainage systems into their parking areas. That's all a part of base maintenance and falls on the base commander. Putting in a drainage channel that runs to a containment area is nothing in the big scheme of things. Bet your ass they'll be getting one now! The F-22 issue was particularly bad because the structure of the air frame has a lot of composites, and you have to do some careful inspections to make sure you're getting all of the damage corrected. They also have radar absorbent materials involved as well, so its not like the old days where you cut out a damaged piece of aluminum and installed a patch. FWIW, the IDFAF is getting F-35's so who knows, they may scrap the 3 F-16's rather than rebuilding them since they're going to be replaced in a few years anyway.
Delete