F-16 Aircraft Database

Grounded for cracked bulkhead for the entire time I crewed it.

DCC on Block 42 aircraft

What more is there to say with 89-103? Work horse, dependable, absolute pain in every maintainers ass when she is feeling moody. Was told as a Staff Select I was getting 103 and all the other experienced SrA and SSgts said "good fucking luck!". I thought to myself what could be wrong... what could be wrong is what I wish was outlined to me. 103 was a 'notorious' engine vibe F-16C. Prior to my arrival the 311th had spent 2 months identifying an aircraft vibe from what they isolated to as a loose arresting hook. That was not the cause of the vibe. Being the 311th and AETC, not the most experienced of pilots operate what was dubbed 89-103 'The Vibe', so it went many months without notice. Fast forward a few months and the 'notorious' vibe has returned and more violent than ever per the stick operator. As it's DCC I was assigned to a Tiger Team with my choosing of assistant who was a SrA that I knew for 3 years from Aviano; SrA Brendan Hoffman. We tore this jet apart from its engine, ADG, flight controls, JFS, PTO, hydraulic pumps, hydraulic reservoirs, ISA's; everything imaginable of any sane person. Nothing. Vibe still present. After a lengthy 4 months of engine runs, grueling maintenance, swearing to production teams that I am only feeling the vibe from 78 to 82% engine RPM's, we investigate the ECS system. Wouldn't you know it? From 1st stage bleed air to second stage bleed air in the cock pit kicks on from 78 to 82% engine RPM's. The fault was isolated to a rusted butterfly valve, replaced same day of identification, and no engine vibe has been felt since. This was May of 2023. 89-103 continues to fly with the 311th and will forever be known as 89-103 'The Vibe' in my heart.