The F-16 is an important part of the aging United States Air Force (USAF) fighter inventory now and for the foreseeable future. However, with some aircraft nearing their service life limit, an Air Combat Command requirement was generated to create a program to extend the life of the Viper to a threshold of 10000 hours, with a goal of 12000 hours. To achieve this extended service life, a full scale durability test (FSDT) was conducted to identify structural modifications necessary to achieve the new service life. Concurrent to the FSDT, the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) was developed. This activity was critical for execution of a modification program as soon as possible after test completion; once the FSDT teardown was completed and any additional findings identified for SLEP, the modification program began installation on the kit proof aircraft. This sequence of events minimizes the number of F-16 aircraft reaching the Certified Service Life (CSL) prior to SLEP full rate production capability, but may come at a price - concurrent activities may create a need to rework SLEP designed modifications due to findings in teardown. The government perspective on F-16 life extension and fleet planning activities is provided, with plans for implementing the FSDT results. Many of the test lessons learned with respect to future fleet management are discussed.
展开▼
