First U.S. Air Force F-16s undergo aircraft purification

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- F-16 Fighting Falcons at the Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico became the first F-16s to undergo the aircraft purification process.

Aircraft purification, a process that removes all moisture, air, and other particles out of the hydraulic fluid in aircraft systems, has been performed on a number of other aircraft before, but this was the first time it was done to an F-16.

Senior Master Sgt. Ian Hall, the 54th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron air ground equipment flight chief, praised the purification process on the F-16s, saying the Air Force's hydraulic test stands make purification systems more efficient.

"Previously, every time we had dirty fluid, we had to do a drain and flush," Hall said. "Now, we can just run it through the new hydraulic test stand and purify our equipment. It's the same for the jets -- we cycle their fluid through the hydraulic test stand, and it's as good as new."

The Air Force says the process takes eight hours, and saves up to 200 gallons of fluid and additional environmental waste.