Grissom accepts first Block 40 aircraft

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ben Mota
  • 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Bringing the future to Grissom, a group of seven members from the 434th Air Refueling Wing, recently returned from Kelly Field Annex in San Antonio, Texas with Grissom's latest equipped KC-135R Stratotanker. 

The aircraft received an upgrade known as Block 40. This upgrade is a project engineered by Rockwell, but subcontracted to the Boeing Corporation for final production. The project adds new technology to the 50-year old aircraft, upgrading its communication, navigation, and surveillance systems. 

"All of these modifications allow the KC-135 to continue into the future with the rapidly changing air space requirements around the world," said Capt. Doug Perry, a pilot with the 434th ARW. 

Brig. Gen. Dean Despinoy led the contingent that delivered the second tanker scheduled for the upgrade and took acceptance of the first new and improved aircraft. 

Before receiving the upgraded aircraft, Grissom members were given an extensive tour that demonstrated the entire upgrade process from beginning to end. 

"The upgrade process begins before the aircraft even arrive," said Trent Martin the production support manager for Rockwell. 

Boeing technicians begin the assembly of wires and circuit boards that will be used for communications, navigation and surveillance systems on the tanker well ahead of the aircrafts arrival. 

After the wiring harnesses are assembled, they go through a rigorous inspection by quality control specialists to ensure functionality before installation. 

The next step of the process begins when the aircraft arrives at the facility. A team of 120 support staff and technicians begin the transformation of the aircraft. Aircrafts are lined up in a fashion resembling an automotive assembly line and stripped to expose all of the old components. 

The Block 40 process began as a 160 day procedure four years ago and has been perfected to only 35 days of labor, said Mr. Martin. 

After all of the old components are removed from the aircraft, the wiring harnesses, circuit boards, antennas and other equipment needed for the upgrade are installed.
"On the exterior of the plane everything remains the same except for the additional antennas," Mr. Martin explained. "The real differences are noticed when you enter the new cockpit." 

"The first thing I noticed when entering the cockpit was the integrated hand controllers on the pilot seats," Captain Perry said. 

"I was impressed by the entire process," he added. "You see all of that hard work and attention to detail and know you are going to get a great product when they are done."
The entire upgrade for Grissom fleet is expected to continue through September 2008.