Fuels team keeps Golden Lance flying

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Dobrydney
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CAMPIA TURZII AIR BASE, Romania --  No matter how technically advanced, without fuel aircraft can't fly.

The 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron sent a 10-person fuels team to support the F-15C Eagles participating in Operation Golden Eagle, a NATO partnership-building exercise with the Romanian Air Force.

When the team arrived, they found a fuels area that needed quick improvement in order to be ready for the jets' arrival.

"We had to pull out the old 200,000 gallon fuel bladder because it was deemed unserviceable, there was a lot of wear and tear on it," said Master Sgt. Jeremy Newman, fuels distribution NCOIC.

Ten Romanian servicemembers helped the Airmen to remove the old bladder so two new 50,000 ones could be installed.

"Without their help I don't know if we could have gotten it out," said Sergeant Newman.

The fuel is delivered each day by contracted tanker trucks and unloaded into the bladders. While the raw fuel is similar to diesel, it must receive additives and be tested before it's loaded onto the Air Force tanker truck to go out to the flightline.

One of the most important tests conducted on the fuel is the 'FSII' test, a fuels icing inhibitor. For every 1,000 gallons of fuel, one gallon of icing inhibitor must be added to separate out any water in the fuel, because while it can be filtered out and drained from the fuel truck, trace amounts can remain and go into the aircraft.

"It's like putting water in a car engine, it doesn't work like that," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Conley, 48th LRS fuels lab technician. "These jets can operate at 30 or 40 below [0 degrees Fahrenheit]; if ice gets into the engine, it could cause a flameout."

Another important additive is the corrosion inhibitor. However, only 57 milliliters is required per 1,000 gallons of fuel.

"I call it Mighty Mouse," said Sergeant Conley.

The 48th LRS Airmen received approximately 100,000 gallons of fuel for the start of Golden Lance. Those gallons traveled a long way before reaching the flightline.

"The fuel is actually coming from Greece, and then it goes to a terminal here in Romania which is 500 kilometers away," said Sergeant Newman, who expressed his appreciation for the Romanian truck drivers who bring the fuel that allows the Airmen to accomplish their mission.

"Each day after we [empty] these trucks, they have to drive eight hours, fill them back up and then drive another eight hours back here," he said.

"But every day they're waiting at the gate ready to [unload] first thing when we come in. They've been a huge help."