BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Conn. - Through the hard work and efforts of the members of the 103rd Maintenance Squadron, the 103d Airlift Wing reached a new milestone - the 100th A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft, TF-34, or turbofan, jet engine was completed here Oct. 10, 2011.
A combined value of more $130 million of Air National Guard and active duty Air Force equipment has been overhauled and shipped through the gates here since the creation of the Centralized Repair Facility in May of 2007.
"This is yet another example of the men and women of the 103rd Airlift Wing keeping our Air National Guard performing at the highest possible level," said Air Force Col. Frank Detorie, commander of the 103rd Airlift Wing. "I am very pleased as the 103 CRF is now positioned to meet mission needs well into the future and will serve as a primary maintenance and training facility of the 103rd Airlift Wing."
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Gerardo Apruzzese, TF-34 CRF aerospace propulsion shop chief, is equally pleased about this milestone.
"The accomplishment of maintaining the jet engines is a matter of pride, culture, and family history for our members," he said. "The desire to excel in this industry is ingrained in those who live in this area of the country.
"It took two and a half years to complete the first 50 engines, but only 17 months to complete the second 50," Apruzzese. "This achievement not only validates the consistent solid performance by CRF personnel since the site activation task force in 2007, but also the positive impact training, experience and process improvement has had on the timeline of each engine overhauled."
This remarkable achievement is even more rewarding and fulfilling to the CRF personnel as the unit maintained zero returns since the first engine shipped to the Arkansas Air National Guard in November 2007.
One of the missions of the CRF is to overhaul TF-34's at the immediate maintenance level. The squadron inducts engines from bases throughout the world, including areas supporting overseas operational contingencies.
"The function of our CRF operation is ensuring each engine is serviceable with optimum performance as we contribute to the mission of keeping A-10s a viable and a lethal platform for many more years," said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Wheeler, the component maintenance flight chief.
"The 103rd Maintenance Group has always maintained the edge over other organizations in a number of areas," said Air Force Lt. Col. Wayne Ferris, commander of the 103rd Maintenance Squadron. "We were the first unit to utilize a new type of inlet ring that eliminated the potential of [damage] from rivets installed on previous inlet ring models."
That wasn't the only first for them.
We were first to devise procedures and design the tooling that made it possible to remove and replace parts of the variable guide vane arms without removal and disassembly of the engine," Ferris said. "In fact, General Electric has relied on Bradley and has looked to us as leaders in the field because of our can do attitude, the expert advice we provide and our ability to get the job done."
Ferris said they have worked closely with GE to retrofit parts, test various sections of the engine and provide input and expertise on modifications and upgrades.
Every month since the creation of the CRF four years ago, the CRF has increased production to a current average of 3.4 engines per month.
The CRF recently relocated into its new state-of-the-art new facility, which expanded the existing TF-34 Engine repair facility's capabilities. IT's responsible for 78 Air National Guard A-10s, as well as those from two active-duty units.
"This is yet another great benchmark for the 103rd as the Connecticut Air National Guard continues to progress in fulfilling its responsibility of providing both state and federal missions with the finest jet engines in the nation," said Air Force Lt. Col. Gerald McDonald, 103rd Maintenance Group Commander.
"We employ a seasoned and diverse workforce that posses a variety of skills in the aviation field," he said. "Our personnel have extensive exposure to the large aviation industry of the northeast.
McDonalds said this milestone continues the progression of the total force with the National Guard and active duty Air Force, as well as the overwhelming professionalism the 103rd delivers to the world.