Block 30 service life

fs626 · by **fs626** » 16 Sep 2020, 06:34

https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... erspective (page 21)

Blk30 achieved 16k hours in FSDT.

https://www.169fw.ang.af.mil/News/Comme ... rs-corner/

A 10,8k EFH service life is mentioned in this article. Aren't the FSDT hours divided by a factor of 2?

Thx

basher54321 · by **basher54321** » 16 Sep 2020, 16:53

10800 operational hours is good for the Block 30.

I have seen it mentioned by JohnWill (Ex GD F-16 structural engineer) that the F-16A needed 16000 hours to be certified for an 8000 hour lifetime. Not sure if two lifetimes is standard.

Whether the Block 30 had a further SLEP after UP/SLIP and was actually put through say 22000 hours FSDT at some point - don't know.

Boman · by **Boman** » 16 Sep 2020, 20:22

10800 EFH is a respectable evolution from the original 4000+ hours

fs626 · by **fs626** » 17 Sep 2020, 22:16

Well, blk40 and above were certified to 13.8k EFH with the recent SLEP based on a 27k hours FSDT.

Blk30s with 10,8k EFH service life went through Falcon STAR. But iirc the EFH count used to be 8k.

I think its a new baseline based on decreased usage severity.

https://daytonaero.com/wp-content/uploa ... pdf#page=3

basher54321 · by **basher54321** » 18 Sep 2020, 14:04

It could be related to that but some more info would be needed.

Having a look at what has been said before the original design usage of the F-16 was around 55% Air to Air with the rest as Air to Ground/ General.

In actual operation it was used outside of the anticipated design usage thus fatigue was seen a lot earlier and Falcon STAR was one of the programs put in place to get them back to 8000 hour usage:

Before Falcon STAR, some aircraft exhibited fatigue damage as early as 3,500 hours, he said. Once modified, the aircraft will meet its designed service life of 8,000 flight hours.
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display ... star-f-16/

Original Block 30 structure was essentially the same as Block 5/10/15/25 with some minor strengthening of wing hardpoints at Block 15. However. airplane weight had increased several thousand pounds from all the added avionic systems. Block 30 really pushed the structure to its limit, necessitating the later upgrades you mention. Those upgrades [UP/STAR] just brought Block 30 up to where it should have been originally.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52217&p=351369#p351369

The Block 40 / 50 got a structural redesign.

fs626 · by **fs626** » 19 Sep 2020, 10:41

As far as I know, and I'm just an enthusiast, if you want to certify an aircraft with a post design service life increase, you need a FSDT to match. Which was done e.g., with the recent blk40/50 SLEP.

Blk30 doesnt have one. Other than it being a baseline rework, I have no idea how the EFH count increase came about.