Wheel and Tire Shop keeps jets rollin'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Torey Griffith
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
The majority of aircraft maintainers focus on keeping jets in the air, but the Airmen at the 509th Maintenance Squadron Wheel and Tire Shop have a different focus: getting those jets back to terra firma

The two-member shop that maintains all of Whiteman's B-2 and T-38 tires is rarely idle, as a steady stream of Magnesium and rubber rolls through the doors.

"All people usually see when they bring us a wheel and tire, is the new one they get in exchange, right then and there," said Staff Sgt. Travis Hughes, 509th MXS Wheel and Tire technician NCO in charge. "What they don't see, is all the work that goes into completely rebuilding these things."

As one could imagine, the tires that transition a $2.2 billion, nuclear-capable, heavy aircraft's journey from the tarmac to the air and back again are inspected intensely and often.  The actual wheels are visually inspected, as well as x-rayed for microscopic defects at regular intervals.

"In the technical order, there are wear limits, and exposure limits to things like hydraulic fluid, fuel and oil that could cause soft spots in the rubber," said Master Sgt. Heath Marinello, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron member.  "Typically, the lifespan of a B-2 tire is six months to a year depending on what kind of runways the jets are landing on." 

A T-38 tire, on the other hand, only lasts a week to three weeks, due to the higher number of missions flown and multiple landings accomplished in order to keep the pilots current on their certifications, according to Sergeant Marinello. 

"We can replace a B-2 nose tire in an hour-and-a-half," said Senior Airman Eric Pearl, wheel and tire shop technician. "A complete overhaul for a B-2 nose wheel can take up to two days."

T-38 tire replacements, which make up the majority of the workload at the shop, take anywhere from 25 to 35 minutes, according to Sergeant Marinello.

"Each $22,500 B-2 wheel and tire assembly weighs more than 275 lbs, and requires specialized, automated equipment to accomplish everything from assembly to inflation and leak-checking," said Airman Pearl.

This enormous workload and the millions of dollars in equipment and supplies required to make it happen are the sole responsibility of the NCOIC and one Airman.

"When we come in here, we know it's game time," said Sergeant Hughes.  "At the end of the day, it's very rewarding to know that we accomplished so much work, and contributed to the success of Whiteman's mission."