[MilCom] Air Force suspends some F-15 flights

[Bengalsfan]

ST. LOUIS - The Air Force has suspended some F-15
flights, citing a possible structural failure
discovered after one of the fighter jets crashed in
central Missouri. 

 
All "non-mission critical" flights were suspended
Saturday, a day after the Missouri Air National Guard
jet crashed in a wooded area about 120 miles southwest
of St. Louis, the Air Force said in a release dated
Sunday.

The pilot ejected and was released from a hospital
Saturday after treatment for a dislocated shoulder,
broken arm and minor cuts. No one else was hurt.

The Air Force described the grounding as a precaution,
but said preliminary findings indicate the aircraft
may have suffered a structural failure. It did not
elaborate, saying the crash remains under
investigation.

The Air Force said more than 700 F-15s are in its
worldwide inventory, although they are being replaced
by the F-22 Raptor. They have been in use since the
mid-1970s.

The Air Force said it will ensure that mission
requirements are met for operations normally
accomplished by the fighter. F-15s fly from bases in
the U.S., England, Japan and the Middle East.

Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Bentley said Monday the
F-15s will remain available for combat or anything
requiring a combat response such as a terrorist
attack, but otherwise they're grounded indefinitely.

"It's not a decision made lightly," Bentley said.
"Until we can find out what the problem is, it's the
safest thing to do."

Bentley would not speculate on how long the grounding
would last.

Col. Robert Leeker, commander of the 131st Fighter
Wing, said Friday the single-seat F15C Eagle that
crashed had been engaged in one-on-one training
fights, in which speeds of 400 to 450 mph are typical.
There was no contact between the plane and its partner
in the mock fight. The crashed plane was built in
1980.

The F-15 was originally manufactured by St.
Louis-based McDonnell-Douglas, which was purchased by
the Chicago-based Boeing Co. about a decade ago.

Boeing spokeswoman Patricia Frost said the company
delivered its last F-15 to the U.S. Air Force in
December 2004, but continues to manufacture the
aircraft for other customers.



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