A-10 visit

Steven Powers, an engineer with the Aerospace Sustainment Directorate Specialty Engine Branch, checks out the flight controls of the A-10 “Warthog” during a visit from Air National Guard pilots meant to bring the warfighters and engineers closer together. The visit let the pilots thank those who put the “air in Air Power,” and allowed the engineers to see how important their jobs are to supporting the mission. (Air Force photo by Micah Garbarino)

A-10 visit

Lt. Col. Mark “Casper” Anderson, A-10 pilot and Safety Officer from the 188th Fighter Wing at Fort Smith, Ark., explains some of the capabilities of the A-10 Warthog to a group of Tinker Engineers during a tour to familiarize the engineers with some of the basic features of the aircraft. (Air Force photo by Micah Garbarino)

A-10 visit

Two pilots from the Air National Guard’s 188th Fighter Wing at Fort Smith, Ark., visited Tinker Nov. 30, and met with engineers from the Aerospace Sustainment Directorate’s Specialty Engine Branch. The branch oversees sustainment of the A-10’s twin-powerplant TF34 engines. The meeting, organized by Col. Joe Wilson, ANG advisor to the OC-ALC commander, gave the warfighters a chance to thank the people who support their mission and gave the engineers an up close look at how their job impacts the mission. (Air Force photo by Micah Garbarino)

Tusk meets tail

Published Dec. 10, 2010
By Micah Garbarino
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The tusks of the warthog came face to face with its tail Tuesday at Tinker.

When two pilots from the Air National Guard's 188th Fighter Wing based in Fort Smith, Ark., landed their A-10C Warthogs at Tinker AFB, Tuesday, they met the men and women of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Aerospace Sustainment Directorate Propulsion Division - men and women who "put the air in your Air Power."

"A lot of these people work at a desk in an office and really have no physical connection to the aircraft or the engine they support, but now they are able to make a real connection," said Col. Joe Wilson, Air National Guard advisor to the OC-ALC commander. Colonel Wilson organized this visit so the warfighters could interface with those sustaining their aircraft and provide them direct feedback.

The Directorate's Specialty Engine Branch oversees the engineering, sustainment and program management for the A-10's twin powerhouse TF34 engines.

"We do all the planning it takes to keep the engine serviceable. We do it through providing engineering advice to the field, maintaining technical orders, working safety issues, parts issues, working with AFGLSC and the repair centers," said branch chief Sheri Lucas. "It's our job to make sure the warfighter has enough serviceable and spare engines to complete their mission."

Last year, the OC-ALC completed a workplace satisfaction survey called CHECKMATE. One of the questions asked people if their organization's mission made them feel that their job was important. Ms. Lucas said this visit is a way for people in her branch to see just how important their job really is.

During the visit, engineers and other members of the Specialty Engines Branch were given a tour of the aircraft and a briefing on the aircraft's capabilities by two pilots who recently returned from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. The pilots assured them that the sustainment mission here was an important one.

The A-10 was built in the 1970s as a "tank killer," meant to destroy the USSR's "inevitable" invasion of Western Europe. That never happened. But, that doesn't mean the Warthog is not useful on today's battlefield. Because of upgrades to its software, avionics and the addition of a targeting pod, it remains very useful in close air support of ground forces in combat. None of this can be accomplished without serviceable and spare engines.

"Anyone who works on this engine really needs a pat on the back and a lot of credit," said Lt. Col. Mark "Casper" Anderson, pilot and Safety Officer for the 188th FW.

Colonel Anderson shared a story about how a twin-ship formation suffered ice damage to all four engines. Not until they reached the ground did they realize how bad that damage was. All of the blades in the engine were "unbelievably" bent and damaged, yet the pilots made it home safely. They were very fortunate said Col. Anderson, in large part due to the sturdy parts and design of the engines.

"They are very robust engines, we have no problems having confidence in these motors," Colonel Anderson said.

This is the second Air National Guard Aircraft to visit Tinker for this purpose. Colonel Wilson previously coordinated a visit with R-26 aircraft and crews.

"I think it is a really valuable experience for the pilots and the engineers to interface. Hopefully we'll be able to do this more in the future," Colonel Wilson said.