The U.S. Navy organized the first F/A-18E Super Hornet engine repair aboard an aircraft carrier

US Navy specialists repaired a jet engine of a marine aircraft aviation F/A-18E Super Hornet aboard the USS George HW Bush deployed at sea. The command of the Navy believes that the repair not only made it possible to quickly return the aircraft to service, but also confirmed the very possibility of carrying out such work at sea, while the aircraft carrier was sailing.

Recall that the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush has been in the waters of the Adriatic Sea since August 2022. It performs a number of tasks assigned to it by the US European Command. A Naval Aircraft Super Hornet assigned to 136 Squadron suffered engine damage while flying on 31 August 2022.

Previously, with such damage, aircraft were removed from the board and delivered to the shore for repair work. But after examining the fighter, the commanders decided to carry out repairs on board the aircraft carrier. Since it was the first time this type of work had been carried out at sea, considerable planning time was required. But everything went well.

The necessary parts, tools were delivered to the aircraft carrier, specialists arrived. As a result, the work took 33 days and was handed over on January 9, 2023. As Captain Thomas Bodin, commander of the air wing, noted, this repair will also allow in the future to start repairing aircraft directly on the sides of aircraft carriers, which will significantly reduce various repair costs.

Our ability to maintain and repair our aircraft while the ship is sailing is a critical competency for combat operations.

- said the officer of the US Naval Aviation.

The US Navy has now demonstrated that it is not necessary to transport aircraft to shore for repairs. This significantly saves time and money, allows you to more quickly carry out quick repairs of aircraft.

Comments

[APASUS]

The ability to carry out repairs on board an aircraft carrier is not discussed at all. The problem is that in the event of hostilities this is not possible.

[Kaufman]

You can not discuss , it is your right . However, while on duty in the oceans, the AD was repaired ... well, this is progress. It's strong. Especially in comparison. unfavorable for us

[agoran]

Well, tell a tale to a mechanical engineer, a certified aircraft engine specialist, what you repaired there.

[Murmur 55]

Kaufman , well, while on combat duty in the world's oceans, an aircraft engine breaks down, now it is necessary to deliver spare parts and specialists to this point or square ?! Or, immediately upon exit, take on board the rem. kit and specialists? For a month they will repair it with an incomprehensible result, and then the aircraft carriers of the United States are in favor, and they were only puzzled by the repair right now, well, progress is so-so, and again, they have 100500 aircraft carriers, and we have more than one, so what? Need to sprinkle ashes on your head? Well, they don’t build EXACTLY aircraft carriers here, they didn’t even build the mighty USSR, but modern Russia really needs it, right?

[Kaufman]

Not as an argument for a dispute, but just like that, I wonder why the hell have we been running around with Kuzey for so many years? Are we putting a lot of money into it?
And as for the repair on board the avik, here I simply understand how, as an engineer, they couldn’t before, now they have learned. It's great !

[bayard]

Quote: Murmur 55

For a month they will repair it with an incomprehensible result,

Isn't it easier to send Osprey for a new engine?
Well, or wait to return to the base? Tea fighter not alone on board?
Or just have a few spare/replacement engines on board?
But if the teeth are treated through the patient's rectum... ...then it's a breakthrough.

[Murmur 55]

Nitsche myself 33 days to repair one engine (albeit at sea), if as an experiment then I still understand, but the question for those who know more is not cheaper and faster to remove the plane from the side and repair it on the ground?

[agoran]

Repairing an aircraft engine outside the factory is not possible in principle.
Yes, you can remove the engine, replace the pump-regulators and other equipment, and that's it.

[Murmur 55]

agoran Plus, I didn’t understand what kind of REPAIR was carried out, well, according to the degree of complexity.

[agoran]

It all depends on the type of aircraft.
On some types, it is possible to replace units without removing the engine, on others only with removal.
Example: you are running the engine, the parameters, well, let them not fit into the parameters by 0.8 of the nominal value. What are your actions? That's right, replace the pump-regulator. There is a lot of things, lazy to write everything.

[Murmur 55]

agoran, so I'm talking about that, the article does not indicate what kind of repair happened. Maybe they changed the spark plugs for 33 days .

[bayard]

Quote: agoran

It all depends on the type of aircraft.
On some types, it is possible to replace units without removing the engine, on others only with removal.

And just have replacement engines on board for replacement in such cases?
I remember that such a fighter was in service with the US Navy ... F-8. So on it the record was set for replacing the engine on an aircraft carrier - 8 minutes. Under the camera And I saw that shooting ... impressed.
So before, the issue was solved by a banal replacement of the engine with a serviceable one, and sending the faulty one for factory repair at the first opportunity.

[voyaka uh]

"Wow 33 days to repair one engine" ///
---
The Indians sent dryer engines for repairs to Russia.
Received back in ... half a year. (this is from the auditor's report)

[Murmur 55]

voyaka uh , and what exactly was repaired, just as they wrote there is REPAIR and there is repair, so what was repaired?

[bayard]

The engines for the Indian Su-30MKI were sent to Russia for a major overhaul to develop a resource. Party. And the repair period is usually specified in the contract for maintaining the fleet of sold aircraft.

[Boniface]

Eee sorry - the repair of the aircraft engine was associated with the replacement of fuel filters ?? Or changed the turbine rotor assembly?
Two different things!

[VIT101]

Judging by the information in the article, the engine was damaged in flight. Most likely, a bird got into the engine. One or more compressor stages need to be replaced. This was done by factory specialists right on the ship. A very correct decision for peacetime. In wartime, no one will do such things.

[vovochkarzhevsky]

But what, religion did not allow to simply replace the engine on the plane and send it (the faulty engine) for repair?

[Konnick]

But what, religion did not allow to simply replace the engine on the plane and send it (the faulty engine) for repair?

"well stupid"
And if an aircraft carrier is in the Indian Ocean?

[vovochkarzhevsky]

Yes, even in the middle of nowhere, spare parts and accessories must be present on board the aircraft carrier, and, accordingly, engines.
And repairing the engine without removing it from the board, and even flying around the plane from the deck of an aircraft carrier, is still extreme.

[Murmur 55]

konnick , and DRAG specialists and rem there. kit is not stupidity? No, as an experiment I understand.

[solar]

On aircraft carriers, a pair of S-2 Greyhound transport vehicles was always present without fail, including for the delivery to or from the coast of aircraft engines for combat aircraft, if necessary. Recently, with the advent of deck-based F-35S, they began to introduce Osprey instead of S-2, which, with similar transport capabilities, have the size of a transport compartment that can accommodate an F-35S engine (it is not included in S-2 in size, as far as I understand).
Why they needed to repair the engine is unclear. Perhaps it is cheaper or checked the possibility of such a principle.