Total force effort five 'clicks' at a time

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Abigail Klein
  • 931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The KC-135 Stratotanker has four F108 engines, and during the April Unit Training Assembly the Number 3 engine on the right inboard side of the aircraft needed to be removed.  While this process is routinely done overseas, it was a rare treat for the Airmen of the 931st Maintenance Squadron.

The 8,000 pound engine was removed April 12. The process is lengthy due to the complicated process of seating the engine trailer to the engine.  This typically requires four Airmen, three to crank the chains that will raise the engine trailer to the engine, and one to supervise.

The engine removal was a total force effort between the 931 MXS, 931st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 22nd Maintenance Squadron jet engine mechanics. Tech. Sgt. Christopher Snyder, 22nd Maintenance Squadron, joined the removal to train with the Reservists. This particular engine was being removed due to a leaking bearing air/oil seal on the aft side of the bearing housing, which requires the engine to be overhauled at the depot-level at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.


Today, Tech. Sgt. Anne Phillips, 931 MXS jet engine mechanic, was supervising the team.  As she carried a digital copy of the jet manual, she hollered commands at Senior Airman Jonathon Greene, 931 AMXS jet engine mechanic, and Airman 1st Class Austin Reeves 931 MXS jet engine mechanic, and Tech. Sgt. Christopher Snyder, to keep track of level counts as the Airmen carefully cranked the chains closer to the engine...

"Alright, five clicks.  Ready, set, GO!"

This process requires constant communication between the four Airmen, two stationed in the front of the engine, and one seated in the rear. 

"The chains are strong, but if you put too much weight on one side the engine can easily break them," said Phillips.

For a while, the engine seemed to be "fighting" with the Airmen.

"I haven't seen an engine fight like this in five years," said Master Sgt. Glen Pearson, 931 AMXS jet engine mechanic.  "The real trick is trying to keep each side of the trailer level while keeping each corner within 500 pounds of each other."

Fortunately for the Airmen, they were able to complete the task after a few hours, and quickly began prepping the replacement engine nearby. The damaged engine was wrapped and sent to the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group at Tinker. Upon arrival, that unit will disassemble, inspect, repair, re-assemble and perform diagnostic testing on the engine and its parts before it takes flight again, a process that can last approximately six to eight months.

Meanwhile, the newly replaced engine will ensure one of Team McConnell's more than 60 KC-135s is mission ready and continues to play a role in worldwide military operations.