Grissom's propulsion shop keeps tankers flying Published July 11, 2015 By Senior Airman Andrew Crawford 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Jet propulsion is classified by a body's reaction to a force ejecting a gas or liquid from it, but without Grissom's propulsion shop that reaction would not be possible. Airmen from the 434 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion shop complete routine inspections, maintenance and repairs on 64 KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft engines and 32 auxiliary power units at Grissom. "Our primary missions it to perform scheduled jet engine inspections and maintenance," said Senior Master Sgt. Joe Lageose, 434th Maintenance Squadron production superintendent. "These inspections ensure Grissom's 16 aircraft remain mission-ready at a moment's notice." The shop, comprised of four Air Force Reserve technicians, a full time civilian, engine manager and eight traditional reservists, completes a variety of inspections including time compliance technical order inspections, periodic inspections and special hourly inspections. "All inspections are based on aircraft engine operating hours," explained Lageose. "During a periodic inspection around 200 discrepancies are discovered and corrected. Inspections conducted by the shop go much further than the visual inspections required by owner manuals of personal vehicles, said Staff Sgt. Anthony Cirone, 434th MXS aerospace propulsion technician. "During our 1,750-hour borescope inspection, an engine borescope looks at the internal workings of the engine," explained Cirone. "The borescope allows us to see foreign object damage caused by items entering the engine that are not supposed to." The borescope inspection is a periodic inspection that can prevent costly engine repairs as seen in the past when the inspection revealed damages that were not visible otherwise. "During a recent periodic inspection, our borescope revealed foreign object damage to one of the engines compressors," said Lageose. "Photographs of the engine were taken, and we were directed to change the engine so that it could be repaired. "By catching the damage during the early stages of its occurrence, future damage or even engine failure was prevented," he concluded. All discrepancies discovered during the periodic inspection process are documented using the paperless documentation process and repaired before the aircraft returns to flight line. "The majority of discrepancies can be repaired here at Grissom," said Lageose. "Unless something major is wrong with the engines, like an entire engine overhaul, it is repaired and maintained in-house." When the shop is not performing scheduled maintenance and inspections they use the only KC-135 training engine in Air Force Reserve Command to keep their Airmen up-to-speed. "The engine is designated as training only and allows reservists to perform hands-on maintenance to remove, inspect, replace and build up components," added Lageose. "Having this engine provides an excellent, more stable training environment by not having to break-down an active aircraft." Grissom is home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units. Airmen, Soldiers and Marines routinely deploy from Grissom around the world in support of the Department of Defense mission and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
