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Structural Flaws To Keep Many F-15 Jets Grounded

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The Washington Post

Published: January 11, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Air Force will keep more than 40 percent of its older model F-15 fighter jets grounded indefinitely after discovering that critical support beams have manufacturing flaws dating back nearly 30 years that could lead to catastrophic damage to the aircraft.
Air Force officials said Thursday that the metal beams on 162 of the fighter jets have flaws - such as being too thin, too rough or improperly cut - adding that high-stress flight over the past three decades has exposed the problem in recent months. The discovery came only after an F-15C ripped into two large chunks over Missouri in November, leading investigators to pore over the wreckage and order inspections of the 450 other F-15 A-D models. The pilot ejected safely.
Air Force officials said they are investigating possible liability on the part of Boeing Co., which purchased the manufacturer of the airplanes, McDonnell Douglas Corp., in 1997. The planes with defects were built between 1976 and 1985.

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