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Scramble 459
being quieter, the General Electric engines are more efficient
and provide 22 percent more thrust. A total of 52 C-5s are
contracted to be modernized aircraft through the Reliability
Enhancement and Re-Engining Program (RERP). With mod-
ernized avionics, the C-5M is designed to extend its service
life well beyond 2040.
Also related to the Super Galaxy news above comes the official
statement that the USAF had stopped all C-5M flight-oper-
ations from Dover AFB (DE). This after two aircraft experi-
enced nose-gear malfunctions in less than a period of two
months. The suspension of 436th Airlift Wing C-5M flights is
effective from 17 July 2017. At this moment, it concerns only
Dover’s Wing and it is not known how long the stand-down of
the C-5Ms will last and if other units like the 60th Air Mobility
Wing from Travis AFB (CA) also have been effected.
In a classified report submitted to Congress in the month
June, the USAF estimated it would cost approximately $50
billion to procure 194 additional Lockheed Martin F-22A
Raptor aircraft at an estimated cost of $206 million to $216
million for just one aircraft without other costs. USAF Sec-
retary Heather Wilson delivered the report to the congres-
sional defense committees on 9 June 2017. Last year, the
House Armed Services Air and Land Forces subcommittee
tasked the USAF to issue a study of what it would take to
reopen Lockheed Martin’s F-22 production line. After having
only 195 aircraft built in the past, it was stated later that the
additional aircraft wouldn’t make economic or operational
sense to do so. It looks like the USAF has definitely no plans
restarting the F-22 production line.
Undoubtedly, the stars of this year’s Paris Air Show were the
two Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning-II aircraft. On 13 June
the Lightning pair, 13-5072/HL, marked 388FW and 14-5091/
HL, from the 34th FS/388th FW arrived from Fort Worth (TX)
at Le Bourget airport to get prepared for the air show. During
the week, multiple shows were given by Lockheed Martin
test pilots. Thousands of spectators from around the globe
were impressed once they saw the Lightning doing aerobat-
ics in the air and even high-ranking officers from Belgium
and, surprisingly, Germany showed great interest in the air-
craft. It has been stated that latter will decide whether they
will commit themselves with France to develop a new fighter
in the future. A follow-up was done at the beginning of July
when Pentagon officials briefed German military on the
latest F-35 developments. A statement later given by Berlin
said no procurement decisions have been taken.
Related to the above F-35 news Lockheed Martin stated at
the Paris Air Show that low-rate initial production (LRIP)
lots 1-11 included 448 F-35 aircraft. The following Lots 12-14
could be procured as a block buy, up to 460 F-35 aircraft with
a total price worth somewhere between $35-40 billion. That
would mean that the average price of a Lightning would
drop to an estimated $85 million per aircraft because of the
block buy deal. At this moment LRIP lot 11 is ongoing which
includes amongst Marine Corps, Navy and international
partner nations, 48 F-35A aircraft for the USAF.
With the introduction of the F-35A and multiple Lightning-
II squadrons being erected within the USAF there are also
some problems to be dealt with. Mid-July it was announced
that the USAF F-35As would get an upgrade for the oxygen-
generating system. This because over hypoxia problem con-
cerns within the USAF ranks. On 9 June 2017, officials of the
56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB (AZ) announced that it would
pause F-35 flight operations at the base because of five inci-
dents when pilots experienced symptoms similar to hypoxia,
or oxygen deprivation. Experts from the F-35 program office
were dispatched to Luke, where they conducted testing and
analysis for a week without reaching a solid conclusion on
what had caused the hypoxia problems. The commander of
the 56th FW made the decision to restart F-35 flight opera-
tions on 21 June after implementing several protective
measures such as flying the aircraft at lower altitudes and
increasing the minimum levels for backup oxygen systems.
At this moment, it has been decided that the F-35 program
office is to make changes to the On-Board Oxygen-Genera-
tion System (OBOGS) to optimize the flow of oxygen to the
airmen flying the F-35A. An USAF Accident Investigation
Board report revealed during Mid-July that an engine fire
causing a damage estimated more than $17 million worth
to a F-35A was blamed by strong winds. It was stated in the
report that strong winds whipping through the exhaust of a
61st FS/56th FW F-35A starting its engine at Mountain Home
AFB (ID) resulted in the engine catching fire on 23 September
2016. The mishap was caused when a strong tailwind forced
hot air into the inlet of the Integrated Power Pack, an inter-
nal system where the conventional auxiliary power unit and
an emergency power unit combine. The USAF has taken addi-
tional steps in the start-up sequence to prevent hazardous
At some time in the future, QF-16C 84-1219 will end its flying days at the bottom of the sea after being shot down as an aerial target. It could be
photographed at the Tyndall AFB (FL) Open House & Airshow on 23 April 2017. (Ramon Berk)
