AGE inspects munitions loader

Thunderbolt April 23, 2004 - By Senior Airman Susan Stout

56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight was recently selected to verify the technical orders for a new munitions loader. A team of eight people spent five days reviewing the new technical order for the MJ-1C, a modified version of the MJ-1B. The MJ-1C transports, lifts and attaches bombs, fuel tanks, pylons and aerial stores weighing up to 3,000 pounds to wing or fuselage stations of military aircraft. In addition to reviewing the written portion, they were also required to disassemble and reassemble the unit using the new technical order. “The purpose of this process is so that when we go to a job we don’t run into a problem where we are unable to continue because something was written wrong (in the technical data,)” said Staff Sgt. Eric Hobbs, 56th EMS AGE craftsman. The maintenance technicians noted numerous discrepancies and the changes will be implemented in the newly published technical order. The new model will have a new engine, one kind of oil, a new power steering system and will fill back shortages until the old model is replaced. “The new MJ-1C is not exclusive to F-16s and can be used Air Force-wide for the loading of munitions,” said Senior Master Sgt. David Hunnewell, 56th EMS AGE Flight superintendent. As soon as the technical orders are changed and modified the new model will be operational, which is scheduled to happen at the end of the year.