Walk through 70 years of history

  • Published
  • By Stephen Delgado
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  If you have ever wondered about the different types of aircraft pilots at Luke Air Force Base have trained in, then just take a walk through the air park.

The Air Park is a walk through seven decades of Air Force history. There are nine types of aircraft at the park that have graced Luke's runways. They include the AT-6, F-84, F-86, F-100, F-104, T-33, F-4, F-15 and F-16.

It is an intricate process to keep the aircraft looking in tip-top shape, and it involves a Team Luke effort.

Eternal vigilance is needed to keep the Air Park fresh and invigorating, and one of the vital cogs in that process is Tech. Sgt. William McClannan, 56th Maintenance Group quality inspector and historical property custodian.

"The aircraft located in the Air Park are on loan to Luke from the Air Force National Museum," Sergeant McClannan said. "Since we have them on loan, we have to maintain the aircraft to reflect favorably on the Air Force. If the aircraft are not properly maintained, they could be taken from us."

Inspections must be done in order to find any discrepancies with the aircraft.

"I am responsible for the quarterly inspections, which involve looking for peeling paint and decals, vandalism, dry rot on the tires and checking the condition of the bird proofing," he said. "If I find discrepancies, I'll schedule repairs with the 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight. They do the touch-up painting, replace decals and fix any minor corrosion or structural problems. Once per year, I go out with fabrication flight personnel and do a paint assessment and determine which aircraft may need a restoration project, which is a two-to-three week process depending on the aircraft size and paint scheme.

"We have to be prepared to respond to unforeseen damage to the aircraft, such as when a car hit the AT-6. The airplane currently has sheet metal placed over the original fabric type of flight controls to protect it."

The aircraft are coated with a clear-polyurethane paint to help protect them and preserve their appearance for as long as possible in the harsh Arizona environment. The polyurethane coating was approved for use on historic aircraft after a two-year test program proved that the aircraft that had the polyurethane paint looked remarkably better than the ones without it, Sergeant McClannan said.

"Ten years ago, the Air Force contracted with a private company to paint all of the aircraft in the park," he said. "We were given a five-year warranty, but the paint began to peel on some of the aircraft after only 18 months. Unfortunately the company that did the painting was out of business. After this experience, Luke decided to use fabrication flight.

"We have a paint barn, which meant we could do this task in house, and the paint job lasts from six to seven years on average. It is an asset to have these facilities on base because it enables us to maintain such a beautiful park. Other smaller bases don't have the infrastructure and skilled personnel available to maintain a park of Luke's size."

Moreover, a recent staff assistance visit confirmed these findings.

"We recently had a site visit from the AETC command historian and staff curator, and their findings were that Luke has the best air park in AETC," Sergeant McClannan said.
It is important to remember that each airplane in the park represents a window in time, according to Sergeant McClannan.

"Each aircraft is painted to depict its original appearance," he said. "We make every effort outside of certain preservation steps to avoid changing the look of the aircraft. Luke's heritage is at this park, and we want visitors to see the aircraft as it was when it flew during its heyday."

However, visitors should pay particular attention to the model in the center of the park, the SPAD XIII aircraft flown by the wing's namesake, 2nd Lt. Frank Luke.

In the middle of the park, the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron built a SPAD XIII out of copper tubing, so visitors can envision the aircraft flown by Lieutenant Luke, Sergeant McClannan said.

"This area of the park is very special not only for the replica of Lieutenant Luke's aircraft, but also for two murals," he said. The larger one in the center of the park has the names of Army Air Corps/Air Force Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. The smaller one is part of the SPAD XIII, which is for the Medal of Honor recipients that called Arizona their home. "I hope visitors will pause and reflect when they see this part of the park."

What's more, Sergeant McClannan is responsible for the F-84 that is on display at the Gila Bend Air Auxiliary Airfield. The F-84 is the main element of the Goldwater Monument located at the ceremonial site that commemorated the redesignation of the Luke range to the Barry M. Goldwater Range in 1987.

Sergeant McClannan said that when he sees people visiting the park it gives him a gratifying feeling.

"It is particularly nice to see people with their children and grandchildren enjoying the park and learning about Luke's heritage," he said. "The air park is a team effort involving many squadrons and sections on base. I feel proud to be part of it."