Combat aircraft

back together. The overhauled landing

gear is reinstalled, the serviced fuel cells

are pressure-checked and countless

other tasks performed. Baumann

says, ‘We basically reassemble the

aircraft to the point that we can apply

hydraulic and electrical power to start

operational checks.’

This leads to gate 4 —  nal operations.

Baumann talks us through this stage:

‘This is when we start turning things on.

We check the  ight control systems and

validate that the mechanical and electrical

systems function together. We run the

landing gear, we turn on control systems

and start all those things that we need [to

be] functionally tested prior to moving out

of the hangar to post-dock.’

At gate 5 — post-dock — the aircraft

is fueled, the cabin pressure-tested,

the APUs started and the engines run.

The avionics, radar and radios are also

checked. If everything proves to be

Right:

Technicians

work on the

horizontal

stabilizer

assembly of B-1B

85-0073.

37

36-39 B1 Depot maintenance C.indd 37 20/03/2018 10:54