Tinker plans for elite engine test cells

Published Sept. 21, 2007
By Kandis West
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Propulsion team took the first steps toward the creation of two elite engine test cell facilities. They will be at Tinker in approximately five years, dependent upon funding.
   The OC-ALC Director of Propulsion staff and the Propulsion Environmental Working Group staff accepted suggestions from industry experts at a Test Cell conference attended by more than 40 companies held Sept. 11 at the Reed Center in Midwest City.
   "Our mission is to deliver warfighting capabilities for all engines on time and on cost, and we need great test facilities to accomplish that," said Floyd Craft, 547th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron director.
   The suggestions will be used to construct a request for a proposal for a 50-foot-by-300-foot test facility, approximately the length of a football field, equipped to handle a 150,000-pound-thrust-class engine.
   Once constructed, the test cells will be the only facilities in the United States with the capabilities to run the next generation Air Force engines, said Rick Craddock, test cell project manager.
   David Jamison, 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group Engineer said the team is preparing the test cells for future aircraft like the next generation fighters and tankers.
   None of the 12 Propulsion Maintenance Group test cells on base are equipped to test some of the new engines like the GE90, Trent 800, F-117, F135, F136 and F119, he said.
   The current test cells were built in the 1950s and 1970s and are aging and too small for larger thrust class engines, Mr. Jamison said. The goal is for the test cell to be able to test any engine, large or small, military or commercial.
   Mr. Jamison said building a new test site at Tinker is vital to the future support of our War fighter customers.
   "If Tinker wants to continue to be a world leader in repair, overhaul and testing, we need to plan for what is a few years down the road," Mr. Jamison said.
   The proposed site for the test complex is the area south of Bldg. 3234. Both the propulsion team and commercial companies voiced concerns about the small space of the projected area. The team discussed other locations 3 to 7 miles from the base, but decided to focus on the base location because the hazards of transporting critical assets proved not to be the best option, the engineer said.
   Because Tinker is the Air Force's engine depot, Mr. Jamison said, they were considered for the site.
   He said he anticipates the new test cell will drastically improve our testing capabilities.
   "It will be the largest test cell in the U.S.," Mr. Jamison said. "We will be able to test any engine built today. Any weapon system that comes out, we can say 'come to Tinker, we have a test cell capable of running this engine.'"
   He also added that the cells would increase Tinker's ability to partner with industry to bring additional workloads.
   Although the prospect of the new cells constructed at Tinker is important, Mr. Jamison said he doesn't want the project to affect the performance of the current cells, which require about $4 million in immediate repairs to support the current workload.
   In addition to the two larger test cells, eight smaller test cells will replace older units from the 1950s in Bldg. 3703.
   An exact timetable for the project has not yet been set. However, Mr. Jamison said 2010 is the earliest Military Construction funds will be available. The project, including all 10 test cells, is estimated to cost $220 million.