Rhonda(at)bpaengines.com Guest
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Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:17 pm Post subject: T-3A Firefly Aircraft Destroyed |
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Sorry for the cross postings, but I felt this issue was worthwhile. See below an email sent to several news agencies. In addition, a letter is in the draft stages to Sen. Jim Inhofe, who is a member of the Senate Arms Committee and a GA advocate. I encourage you to do the same.
“Please review the attached stories regarding the Air Force's disposal of 110 T-3A Firefly airplanes that cost the American taxpayers $33,000,000. These airplanes were grounded after three fatal accidents. It was determined that the airplanes had fuel delivery problems.
http://www.txaa.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=1554
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123026857
Generally when aircraft are destroyed, they are disassembled and the good components are then sold through auction or salvage. The Air Force, however, has completely destroyed all components, including new engines and propellers still in the crates from the factory.
My company is an engine overhaul facility which supports the general aviation market. The engines associated with these aircraft are used in a multitude of certified and experimental aircraft with very reliable results and are highly sought after. In fact, we had already begun inquiries with the GSA on how to bid on these components when these stories came across our desk.
What a waste of the taxpayer's money!! I feel confident that even those individuals who don't have a passion for flight would find this type of activity deplorable. I hope you will give this story your consideration.”
Rhonda Barrett-Bewley
Barrett Precision Engines, Inc.
2870-B N. Sheridan Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74115
(918) 835-1089
www.barrettprecisionengines.com
From: owner-engines-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-engines-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Speedy11(at)aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 10:14 AM
To: engines-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Engines-List: FYI
The US Air Force has announced that it will scrap all 110 remaining T-3A Firefly training aircraft in the fleet. The planes were grounded in 1997 after numerous incidents and three crashes. While the Air Force attributed two of the fatal mishaps to pilot error, all three accidents involved problems with the engine, a six cylinder Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 generating 260 hp driving a three-bladed prop.
According to GlobalSecurity.org, the T-3A's engine had failed 66 times during takeoffs or landings. The Air Force grounded 57 of the planes on ten separate occasions due to problems with either engines, fuel systems, or brakes.
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