FRCSE completes last F1D2 engine

FRCSE has been repairing F1D2 engines, as well as providing engineering, logistics and program management support to the USAF F-117 System Program Office (SPO) since 1996.

The USAF has decommissioned the F-117, thus negating the need for the F1D2 engine. At the ceremony, Capt. Tim Matthews, FRCSE commanding officer, said, "It's hard to believe the F-117 is being retired. It was the first aircraft over Baghdad in the first Gulf War. You all can be very proud of your work in supporting the F-117. It's a bitter sweet moment and I take my hat off to you."

Lockheed Martin began development of the F-117A in 1978 and it was first flown in 1981, but it was not until 1988 that its existence was publicly announced. The Nighthawk is the world's first operational stealth aircraft. The first aircraft was delivered in 1982 and the last of the 59 Nighthawks procured by the USAF was received in 1990. In 1993, the USAF F-117 SPO considered the possibility of moving depot repair workload to FRCSE.

From left, David Buffin, program manager, USAF Master Sgt. Kenneth Orr and Capt. Tim Matthews, Fleet Readiness Center Southeast commanding officer get ready to cut the cake in front of the last F1D2 engine.

Early in 1994, FRCSE assembled a core team to develop a repair cost estimate, and in mid-1994 delivered that estimate to the USAF SPO. In late 1994, the USAF SPO made the decision to move the F1D2 repair workload to FRCSE. This, of course, was an extremely controversial decision as workload had been located at GE Ontario, a commercial site vendor. FRCSE sold its first F1D2 engine to the USAF in fourth quarter 1995 and began inducting the engines in first quarter 1996. FRCSE became the sole depot repair source for the F1D2 engine.

David Buffin, FRCSE program manager for the F1D2 Engine Program stated, "In the 13 years since the induction of the first F1D2 engine, FRCSE has repaired 512 of these engines, averaging 42 engines per year and in our busiest year we produced 60 engines. We are extremely proud of this program and hate to see it go."

FRCSE also provided field support teams to the USAF in addition to repairing 600 engine related components. FRCSE inducted its last F1D2 engine in fourth quarter 2007.

Representing the USAF, Master Sgt. Kenneth Orr stated, "Many thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication, and for providing our pilots a safe environment. I regret seeing the F-117 retired, but bigger and better things are to come."

The F-117 is being replaced in the USAF by the F-22 Raptor. The first 10 of the 55 F-117 aircraft in service were retired in December 2006, with the remainder to be retired by early 2008.

FRCSE will continue to provide engineering and program management support through the end of fiscal year 2008 which ends Sept. 30.