10 Swiss F-5E jets to be SCRAPPED. Cracks not to be repaired

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Stratofreighter
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10 Swiss F-5E jets to be SCRAPPED. Cracks not to be repaired

Post by Stratofreighter »

http://www.lw.admin.ch/internet/luftwaf ... 5.nsb.html
can be translated through
https://translate.google.com/translate? ... 5.nsb.html
Temporary restriction of the fleet availability Tiger F-5E
12.01.2015 01/12/2015

Anlässlich einer Kontrolle wurde an einem Tiger F-5E (Einsitzer) ein Riss in der tragenden Flugzeugstruktur festgestellt. During the inspection, a crack in the supporting aircraft structure was found on a Tiger F-5E (single seater).

Dies hatte einen Kontrollauftrag an den derzeit noch regelmässig geflogenen 30 Jets Tiger F-5E zur Folge. This had a job to the control still regularly flown 30 F-5E Tiger Jets result.

Die Doppelsitzer F-5F sind von der Massnahme nicht betroffen. The two-seater F-5F are not affected by the measure. (18 weitere F-5E und F-5F befinden sich im Inventar der Luftwaffe, werden aber nicht mehr geflogen.)

Im Rahmen dieser grossflächigen Überprüfung wurde am 8. Januar bei einem zweiten Flugzeug ein weiterer, grösserer Riss am gleichen Bauteil gefunden. (18 more F-5E and F-5F are in the inventory of the Air Force, but not flown.) Under this large-scale review of another, larger crack on the same component was on January 8 at a second aircraft found.

Dieser Riss wurde aufgrund der technischen Beurteilung als so gravierend eingestuft, dass die Luftwaffe nach einer gemeinsamen Risikoanalyse mit armasuisse und RUAG beschlossen hat, vorsorgliche Massnahmen anzuordnen. This crack was classified on the basis of the technical evaluation as so serious that the Air Force has decided for a common risk analysis with armasuisse and RUAG to order provisional measures.

Flugzeuge mit einem festgestellten Riss in der Flugzeugstruktur werden für den Flugbetrieb bis zu einer Reparatur gesperrt; Aircraft with a measured crack in the aircraft structure are closed for flight operations to repair;
noch nicht kontrollierte Flugzeuge werden bis zur Ausführung des Kontrollauftrags vorsorglich gesperrt. not controlled aircraft are banned as a precaution until the execution of supervisory duties.

Daraus resultiert eine temporäre Einschränkung in der Flottenverfügbarkeit der Tiger F-5E. This results in a temporary restriction in the availability of the fleet F-5E Tiger. Aktuell müssen noch 13 F-5E kontrolliert werden. Currently still need to be controlled 13 F-5E.

Die Ausführung des Kontrollauftrages dauert pro Maschine 2 Wochen. The design of the control order per machine takes 2 weeks.

Nach aktueller Planung werden im 2. Quartal 2015 alle Flugzeuge überprüft sein. According to current plans, all aircraft will be reviewed in the 2nd quarter of 2015.

Der Einsatz der Luftwaffe am WEF kann gewährleistet werden, da die F/A 18 im eingeschränkten Luftraum über Davos den Hauptauftrag erfüllen. The use of the Air Force at the WEF can be guaranteed, as the F / A-18 meet the main contractor in the restricted airspace over Davos.

Da von der vorläufigen Einschränkung der F-5E auch bemalte Tiger der Patrouille Suisse betroffen sind, wird die Patrouille Suisse ihre Flugshow beim Auftritt am Lauberhorn nicht mit 6 bemalten Tiger vorführen können.
Because of the provisional restriction of F-5E Tiger also painted the Patrouille Suisse are concerned, the Patrouille Suisse will not be able to show off with 6-painted tiger its air show appearance at the Lauberhorn.
Last edited by Stratofreighter on 16 Apr 2015, 17:54, edited 1 time in total.
November 2024 update at FokkerNews.nl....
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Re: Swiss F-5E jets grounded. Those cracks...

Post by Stratofreighter »

http://www.thelocal.ch/20150415/cracks- ... ten-planes
Published: 15 Apr 2015 10:58 GMT+02:00

The Swiss Air Force is scrapping ten of its F-5 Tiger fighter planes after cracks were discovered in the bodies of the aircraft,
the federal defence department said on Wednesday.

Cracks were also discovered in another six F-5 planes,
which will be repaired between now and the first quarter of 2016,
the department said.

A fissure in the supporting structure of one of the air force’s F-5E Tiger planes was first noticed in 2014.

A larger crack was noted in the airframe of a second plane in January 2015 leading to a detailed examination of all the 36 F-5 Tiger aircraft that were flying regularly.

This led to the detection of “serious” fissures in a total of 16 planes.

Between 1978 and 1984 the Swiss Air Force acquired 110 F-5 Tiger planes (98 singe-seater models and 12 two-seaters) produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Northrop Corporation, which merged with Grumman in 1994 to become Northrop Grumman.

Today, the force is flying just 26 of the fighter jets after most of them were earlier retired from service.

One of the impacts of the downsized fleet is that the Patrouille Suisse,
the air force’s aerobatic team,
will not always be able to fly six planes,
the defence department said.

In May last year, Swiss voters rejected a government plan to buy 22 Gripen fighter jets from Swedish company Saab for 3.1 billion francs as part of a plan to replace the F-5 Tiger planes.

The F-5 Tiger fleet was to have been completely withdrawn from service by next year.

The Swiss Air Force also has 32 Boeing F/A-18 Hornets in its combat fleet.

Defence Minister Ueli Maurer has acknowledged that the Gripen decision has created “security gaps” for the force that need to be addressed.
November 2024 update at FokkerNews.nl....
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Re: 10 Swiss F-5E jets to be SCRAPPED. Cracks not to be repa

Post by SquAdmin »

So,
- with 6 F-5's being repaired in Q1 2016
- and the statement "The F-5 Tiger fleet was to have been completely withdrawn from service by next year.",
we can conclude that the Swiss Tigers will soldier on for a while?
Greetz,

Patrick
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Re: 10 Swiss F-5E jets to be SCRAPPED. Cracks not to be repa

Post by ehusmann »

I believe that was indeed the result of the Gripen deal being torpedoed by the referendum. The Tigers were to be withdrawn and replaced. But since now there is no replacement, the plans for withdrawal were also put on hold. Cannot find a real source for this, but that's how I at least interpreted the news.

Erwin
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