New trainer enhances Liberty Wing F-15 maintenance

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The 372nd Training Squadron, Detachment 16, recently installed a landing gear trainer, which is being utilized in its F-15 hydraulics course.

The detachment, which supports aircraft maintenance squadrons on RAF Lakenheath, received the $665,000 trainer - one of three in the Air Force - from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and is using it to enhance one of its training programs.

"Essentially this (the trainer) gives us all the time in the world to create the same conditions inside a classroom instead out of the flightline," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Douglass, 372nd TRS, Det. 16 tactical aircraft maintenance instructor and native of Dayton, Ohio. "Each time we teach an F-15 hydraulics class, we (previously had to) take down two days for an aircraft. That's two days an aircraft could be flying."

The trainer does more than just free up an F-15 for sorties.

According to Tech. Sgt. Marc Berman, 372nd TRS, Det. 16 tactical aircraft maintenance instructor and native of Las Vegas, Nev., the trainer allows for a reduction in man-hours associated with the course as instructors and support personnel no longer have to request a location, put an aircraft on jacks and bring safety and aerospace ground equipment to the aircraft.

"It allows us, as instructors, to concentrate on exactly the task at hand," Berman said. "It removes the external variables, so these guys (the students) can get the best training possible."

Students from the F-15 hydraulics course also prefer the trainer to an aircraft.

"This trainer works really well," said Senior Airman Joseph Schlotthauer, an F-15 hydraulics course student and 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit tactical aircraft maintenance journeyman. "Unlike with an aircraft, which has everything covered up, you are able to see everything, how it works and how it is supposed to operate."

"It also allows us to be in a classroom setting instead of out in the elements, which is really nice during the colder seasons," added Schlotthauer, a Lancaster, Pa., native.

The F-15 hydraulics course is just one of many courses at Det. 16.

The detachment offers 61 courses at RAF Lakenheath, which are designed to provide aircraft maintainers the necessary knowledge and skills to keep Liberty Wing's F-15C Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles and HH-60G Pave Hawks mission ready.

According to Tech. Sgt. Joshua Tugan, 372nd TRS, Det. 16 tactical aircraft maintenance instructor and native of Kalkaska, Mich., these courses are enhancing the Liberty Wing mission.

"It makes great F-15 and HH60 maintainers even better," he said.