F-16 i hydraulikkdialyse - USA - Curt Lewis

Holloman F-16s first in Air Force for aircraft purification
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE - The F-16 Fighting Falcons at Holloman Air Force Base are clean and pure - at least as far as their hydraulic fluid is concerned thanks to new test stands.

"Aircraft purification is removing all the moisture, air and particles out of the hydraulic fluid in the systems of the aircraft," said Senior Master Sgt. Ian Hall, the 54th Aircraft Maintenance Air Ground Equipment flight chief. "It's important because it will increase the system reliability on the aircraft, and it will greatly reduce the long-term maintenance costs."

Although this process isn't new, it's the first time it has been used on F-16s, and the 54th AMXS received the first three hydraulic test stands equipped with onboard purification systems.

The new stands will save money and resources. According to Hall, the system can save up to 230 gallons of hydraulic fluid compared to a standard flush.

"Previously, every time we had dirty fluid we had to do a drain-and-flush," Hall said. "That included all of our [aerospace ground equipment] as well. So, if our old hydraulic test stands were contaminated, we had to drain and flush the system three times and change the filters. Now, we can just run it through the new hydraulic test stand and purify our equipment. It's the same for the jets. We cycle their fluid through the hydraulic test stand, and it's as good as new."

With each flush taking as many as eight hours, the savings in time is an added bonus.

"In the big picture, you'd never have to do a drain-and-flush again," Hall said. "As long as you're hooking up that system when doing routine maintenance, it is still purifying that fluid."

Staff Sgt. Brian Cormier, a crew chief with the 54th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Holloman, prepares an F-16 Fighting Falcon for aircraft purification Nov. 4. Holloman Airmen performed this process for the first time on an F-16 on Nov. 3. The goal of Aircraft Purification is to increase aircraft system reliability, reduce maintenance costs and reduce the waste associated with standard fluid changes. (Photo: U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney)