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F-22 maintenance 'schoolhouse' opens at Sheppard

October 24, 2007 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Boeing, the U.S.A.F. 82nd Training Wing and industry partners opened a state-of-the-art F-22 maintenance training facility at Sheppard AFB, Texas, on Oct. 19.

Mock up F-22 frame for training at Sheppard AFB, Texas photographed on July 20, 2007. [USAF photo] Mock up F-22 frame for training at Sheppard AFB, Texas photographed on July 19, 2007. [USAF photo by A1C Jacob Corbin]

The Boeing Raptor team has the lead on developing F-22 pilot and maintenance training programs in addition to building the fighter's wings and aft fuselage, integrating the avionics and software, and providing a third of the sustainment.

"Activating the training center at Sheppard has been a totally collaborative effort" said Pam Valdez, Boeing director of F-22 Sustainment. "From day one, we’ve enjoyed a great spirit of teamwork with our Air Force customers, industry partners and suppliers. Working together for more than five years, we’ve been able to plan, design and integrate training devices, computerized classrooms and courseware into a 120,000-sq. ft. schoolhouse"

For instructional purposes, engineers have divided the aircraft into seven full-scale, high-fidelity training devices that replicate flight line maintenance conditions and eliminate the need to train on operational aircraft. The devices provide hands-on practice in inspection, operation, removal and installation, system-testing and fault isolation. They range from simple to highly complex, covering as few as 14 to as many as 240 separate tasks.

The armament trainer, for example, addresses 89 individual functions that technicians must perform in maintaining the F-22’s weapons bays, missile launchers, wing pylons, countermeasures dispenser and 20mm cannon. Each component of the trainer mirrors its onboard counterpart as faithfully as possible in dimensions, weight, center of gravity, color and texture.

"It's not enough simply to read about maintaining a Raptor or watch someone else doing it on a video" said Valdez. "There's the kinetic aspect of training -- getting physically attuned to the task. This is critical for timely execution as well as the technician's safety and comfort"

Students also will engage interactively with high-fidelity software lessons in 14 computer-controlled classrooms and gain additional hands-on experience in five labs. A Training System Services Center staffed by contractor personnel will support the entire curriculum.


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