Engines

Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, and members of the AFMC Community Liaison Program get an up-close look at the first U.S. Marine Corps F135 engine tested at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex's new T-9 test cell facility. The general toured the test cell facility during her visit to Tinker Aug. 26.(Air Force photo by Kathy E. Paine)

General gets first look at F135 engine

Published Sept. 5, 2014
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- During a short visit to Tinker by Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, on Aug. 26, the general got an up-close look at the first U.S. Marine Corps F135 engine that was tested at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex's new T-9 Test Cell facility.

This particular T-9 Test Cell, relocated from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., was modified to enable testing of the F135 engine.

"We are the first location in the Department of Defense with this capacity, and have used this test cell to produce the first modified engine in support of Marine Corps accelerated Initial Operating Capability on their variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter," said Col. Stephen Petters, commander of OC-ALC's 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group.

"We highlighted to General Wolfenbarger and her entire team that we are well on our way to full depot activation for the F135 engine, while simultaneously supporting our Marine Corps partners and incrementally growing our capacity to handle unplanned depot-level repair work. Working with our Pratt & Whitney partners, we are posturing to accelerate work on this critical national asset," Colonel Petters added.

Steve Stoner, 544th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron, guided General Wolfenbarger around the F135 engine that was suspended from the T-9's test stand.

"It was wonderful to have our four-star commander visit our T-9 test facility and brief her on our established capability to test the F135 engine," said Mr. Stoner.

As they moved through the facility, Michael Jennings, with the 76th Software Maintenance Group, continued the briefing with specifics on the Pacer Comet 4 engine test program, which was organically produced at the OC-ALC and has already been fielded at multiple Air Force bases. Pacer Comet 4 is the software portion of the engine testing system, which was modified to provide system functionality for the F135 engine in Tinker's T-9 facility.