KEEPING
THE B-1B
LOOKING
GOOD
Each B-1B is repainted as part of the
programmed depot maintenance
work and is treated to a much more
in-depth overhaul of the outer
coating on every second visit to the
PDM. This equates to a major update
to finish every 10 years or so. William
Baumann reports, ‘It takes about 32
gallons of primer, 65 gallons of top-
coat paint, two gallons of anti-static
coating and eight gallons of Teflon to
completely paint the aircraft. It takes
approximately five days to complete
the process.’that had been removed for access
purposes are refitted and tested. The
bomber then undergoes pre-flight
checks and is test-flown. Baumann: ‘They
push the aircraft towards its envelope in
many areas. They check functionality and
airworthiness of all disturbed systems on
the aircraft’.Improving efficiency
Baumann and his team are always looking
for ways of improving efficiency withinthe servicing and modifications process,
while, of course, maintaining the depot’s
high standards. ‘In 2017, the average
number of days a B-1 spent in the PDM
was 183. We are proud that this is an
improvement from the 2016 average of
215 days, a 15 per cent reduction. In the
IBS program we average 194 days — in
2015 it was over 300 days per aircraft.
‘Some specific things that we have
done to lower those days are embracing
the air force specialty code ‘art of the
possible’ methodology for production.
It helps us optimize our production
lines to produce quality aircraft safely
and quickly. This allows us to reduce the
number of aircraft that are here at any
one time. We must ensure that we are
moving them through the line efficiently.’Keeping them flying
Having supplies of parts, along with
the ability to source or make hard-to-
find components, is helping to speed
up the overhauls. The team works
closely with the 309th Aerospace
Maintenance and Regeneration Group
at the Davis-Monthan storage facility
in Arizona to get many of the out-of-
production items.
Baumann says, ‘We rely on the 309th
AMARG, a facility that has about 18 B-1s.
Many of the parts are hard to get, but
the 309th AMARG in most cases can
get them to us quickly. We also have
significant capability to make specialty
parts here at OC-ALC.’running as advertised, the bomber is
prepared and pre-flighted for a functional
check flight.
This is performed by pilots assigned to
the 10th Flight Test Squadron, who are
also located at Tinker, and who ferry the
B-1s to and from the depot. Since the
aircraft has basically been rebuilt, the pre-
flight checklist that the pilots go through
can take several hours to perform prior to
take-off. The aircraft is then flown to the
limits of its operating envelope.Adding mods
The extensive IBS modifications are
accomplished on a separate line on an
adjacent part of the base. About 11 B-1s
come in each year for modifications
outside of the scheduled PDM.
The aircraft are inducted in a similar
way to the standard servicing, but only
the components or systems that are
going to be modified are disassembled or
removed. When all the necessary wiring
and equipment has been taken off, some
structural modifications are made.
New electrical and data cabling is
installed. The wiring changes consist of
some 19,500 individual wire segments
that go into the modification. Once fitted,
the cabling is clamped, string-tied and
terminated.
The stage thereafter checks the
wiring and all the connections ensuring
wire integrity and functionality. When
the cabling has been validated, new
components and the other equipmentAbove left to right:
Air conditioning
hoses are
connected to
provide cool air
inside the aircraft.
Looking down the
top of a B-1 as it’s
stripped down,
with the cockpit
ejection seat
hatches open.UNIT REPORT // OKLAHOMA ALC
38 May 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
36-39 B1 Depot maintenance C.indd 38 20/03/2018 10:54