PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID TULLAHOMA TN Vol. 66, No. 21 Arnold AFB, Tenn. PERMIT NO. 29 November 4, 2019 Replacing decades-old exhauster motors expected to increase reliability, availability for testing base wide By Deidre Moon ing five motors with three, each 10,000 AEDC Public Affairs horsepower,” he said. “These will sup- port three of the six compressors in B Exhauster motors near the Arnold Plant.” Engineering Development Complex En- Combined with the A motor re- gine Test Facility at Arnold Air Force placement project, this is a $32 million Base are being replaced after being in project. In A Plant, four motors will be service since at least 1958. replaced with two new ones, 38,000 The motors, referred to as the A and horsepower each. B exhauster motors, have been used to These exhauster motors not only sup- exhaust up to a combined total of 1,100 port engine testing for jet engine cells pounds of air per second during testing. J-1 and J-2, but also support testing at In the 61-plus years that the motors the J-6 Large Rocket Motor Test Facil- have been in use, they have supported ity, the H2 High Temperature Lab and the testing of numerous aircraft engines, the Propulsion Wind Tunnel Facility. including those used for the B-1 Lancer, “They’re integral to the entire base B-47 Stratojet, B-52 Stratofortress, C-5 and each of the Combined Test Forces Galaxy, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Fal- on the base because they all utilize this con, F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II and exhaust plant,” Knauf said. U-2, a high-altitude reconnaissance air- Jay Maniscalco, asset manager for craft, as well as cruise missiles and other the Aeroproulsion Combined Test Force, projects. added that the exhauster motor replace- “The new 38,000 horsepower mo- ment project is also historically signifi- tors in A Plant will greatly increase reli- cant for Arnold. ability, availability and maintainability “ETF B was the first plant for the En- to support test cells across Arnold Air gine Test Facility, which was completed Force Base,” said Maj. Michael Knauf, in May 1954, and a lot of the equipment AEDC Aeropropulsion Operations Of- came over from Germany and the newer ficer. motors are still driving these old Ger- Knauf added this is a major mainte- man compressors,” he said. A worker watches as a 38,000-horsepower motor is lifted by a crane into place nance project for AEDC. at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex Engine Test Facility A Plant at Arnold Air Force Base, Oct. 14. The motor will replace two motors that had “For the B motors, we will be replac- See EXHAUSTER, page 5 been in service since 1958. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jill Pickett) Craftsmen keep largest wind tunnels in the world running at peak conditions By Bradley Hicks maintenance around the fa- AEDC Public Affairs cility, they are also charged with the installation of They are considered in- test articles in each of the dispensable. two large wind tunnels at Those at the National NFAC and the operation of Full-Scale Aerodynamics the tunnels themselves. Complex at Moffett Field There are currently 16 in Mountain View, Califor- craftsmen employed at nia, who observe their con- NFAC. They are broken up tributions every day agree into three different groups the craftsmen employed – mechanics, electricians there are not only integral and instrumentation tech- to the work at NFAC but nicians. Within the me- play a vital role the Arnold chanics is a subgroup of Engineering Development employees who possess Complex mission as a aircraft maintenance ex- whole. perience and certification, “They are essential,” which allows these aircraft said NFAC Branch Man- mechanics to work more ager Jeff Johnson. “We extensively on engines, ro- couldn’t perform this mis- torcraft and aircraft models Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) team members lower the NASA/Army Tiltrotor Test Rig sion without them.” that are tested in the NFAC (TTR) into the 40- by 80-foot wind tunnel in the AEDC National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) The craft crews at at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California. The TTR was developed to study advanced tiltrotors and wind tunnels. develop databases for design code validation. NFAC craftsmen not only install test articles in the facility NFAC are not only respon- See CRAFTSMEN, page 5 wind tunnels, but they also operate and maintain the wind tunnels. (U.S. Air Force photo) sible for performing all the 746th Test Squadron celebrates diamond anniversary By Staff Sgt. Christine Groening this squadron tested the inertial naviga- 49th Wing Public Affairs tion system that they were using to navi- gate to the moon,” McNiel said. “They HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, realized there was a pretty serious design N.M. – The 746th Test Squadron cel- flaw with it. If we had not identified the ebrated their 60th anniversary Oct. 25. flaw and fixed the system before it went The event was open to those with on Apollo 13, they would not been able base access, and guests enjoyed variety to navigate after they had been blown off of activities to include facility tours fea- course.” turing test equipment and hardware, face Currently, nearly all military equip- painting, aircraft flyovers, live music and ment with navigation systems, such as food. aircraft, ships, submarines and vehicles, “1959 was when this squadron was visit the test squadron to ensure proper founded as the Central Inertial Guidance function. Test Facility,” said Lt. Col. Charles Mc- “One of the first things that happens Niel, 746th TS commander. “(The facil- in a peer conflict is adversaries are go- ity) existed before that, as a missile test ing to try to contest GPS,” said McNiel. facility.” “Another big part of our mission that has The squadron is known for being the grown considerably in the last 10 years is Department of Defense’s go-to lead test we jam GPSs. We have the world’s most Lt. Col. Charles McNiel, 746th Test Squadron commander, shows a photo of Grady Nicholson, a former 46th Test Group engineer, during a 746th TS 60th organization, whom tests and evaluates anniversary event Oct. 25 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The photo shows GPSs and integrated GPS based guid- See 746TH, page 3 a picture of Nicholson burying the same time capsule they opened for the an- ance and navigation systems. niversary event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christine Groening) “Just before the Apollo 13 disaster, AEDC Strategy 2020: Refocus on Runners, walkers wanted for AEDC Strategy 2020 great power competition 34th AEDC Turkey Trot 5K …Page 2 …Page 6 …Page 3 2 • November 4, 2019 Arnold Air Force AEDC Strategy 2020: Refocus Base on great power competition By Col. Jeff Geraghty and Chief cess that determines an appro- Master Sgt. Rob Heckman priate CONOPS, or concept of AEDC Command Team operations, before the change is Col. Jeffrey Geraghty made. We will not let internal Commander Leaders throughout the United quibbling over turf, legacy roles, States government recognize the or ‘old ways’ stand in the way of Jason Austin need to re-focus the defense es- moving out on making the final Chief, tablishment on great power com- push toward achievement of a test Public Affairs petition. To meet this end, “The wing capable of meeting future U.S. House of Representatives national needs. Your role in this has launched a new task force strategy is vital: you must hold to examine how to maintain the Richard Tighe your leadership team account- General Manager, Pentagon’s technological edge able for mission focus, clarity and National Aerospace against Russia and China as well transparency. Each leadership Solutions as take on sacred cows along the team, which Chief of Staff of the High Mach Staff: way,” Defense News reported on U.S. Air Force Gen. David Gold- Oct. 23. Likewise, leaders at the Col. Jeff Geraghty, Chief Master Sgt. Rob Heckman, fein defines as the commander Kathy Jacobsen, AEDC Commander AEDC Superintendent Arnold Engineering Development and senior enlisted advisor – and NAS Executive Editor Complex – a major contributor to our space warfighting technolo- priorities. Before we step foot in their equivalents at the division, Jill Pickett the National Defense Strategy – gies are second to none?” and the direction of changing organi- branch, and section levels – will NAS Editor have a firm grasp on the compel- “How does the United States zational roles and responsibili- take action in pursuit of this strat- High Mach is published by ling need to re-focus our efforts prove the global superiority of ties, we must define clearly where egy immediately. If you don’t Lakeway Publishers, Inc. a pri- on great power competition, and our next-generation ground-based we stand. For example, we have know who the leadership team vate firm in no way connected butcher sacred cows that stand in strategic deterrent?” challenged every division chief, is for your organization, I would with the U.S. Air Force, Arnold the way. As we step deliberately and branch chief, office chief, group challenge you to ask your supervi- Air Force Base, Arnold Engi- neering Development Complex Dozens of AEDC leaders met thoughtfully toward a more com- commander and squadron com- sor to clarify who serves in these (AEDC) or National Aerospace at Gossick Leadership Center on plete integration as an Air Force mander to communicate precisely roles within your section, branch Solutions (NAS), under exclu- Oct. 22-24 to listen, think and act Wing, focus, clarity and transpar- how they are currently organized.