"The most cost-efficient jet we fly here is the T-6," Mr. The T-38 Talons use, on average, about 350-400 gallons of fuel per one-hour sortie. "If you have, say for instance, an hour to work with a T-38, you must make sure you optimize your training." "This is true for more of our aircraft, as we've lessened the time of the sorties but not taken away any of the required training," Colonel Weggeman said. T-43 planes, used to train individuals in navigation and tactical procedures, carry 3,750 gallons of fuel and will use as much as 3,000 of those during a three- to four-hour sortie.Ĭolonel Weggeman said sortie durations for those planes have been reduced by an hour. Noticeable changes include taxi time and other ground operations specifics which have been reduced or eliminated as part of the plan to lessen fuel use, said Colonel Weggeman. "We constantly refuel the planes and to this point have not noticed a reduction in number of flights with our training aircraft." "When we need fuel we call the DESC and they have it shipped to us," said Eddie Cortez, assistant contract manager at Randolph's Fuels Management Branch. That's just one example, but you can guess that these planes use lots of fuel."įuel is shipped to Randolph from distribution centers in Poteet and Three Rivers through orders placed with the Virginia-based Defense Energy Support Center. "A T-1 will carry 625 gallons of fuel and use up about 500 of those in a two- to three-hour sortie. "When you combine all the aircraft, we average about 655 sorties flown here per week," Aircraft Maintenance Division assistant chief Dave Long said. Randolph pilots routinely train in T-1, T-6, T-38 and T-43 aircraft. Every sortie we eliminate means we've saved 3,800 gallons of fuel."Ī sortie - a mission which takes pilots from taxi to takeoff to flight, then back to the tarmac - can last anywhere from one hour to four hours depending on the aircraft used. "We have transformed our training syllabi and reduced the number of sorties it takes to train people and get them to the same skill level we've always required. "Policy handed down by the 19th Air Force has been in place for nearly two years," Colonel Weggeman said. Christopher Weggeman said sorties flown from Randolph flight lines have been tweaked, but training essentials remain as they have been. As Middle Eastern oil prices go higher, measures are being taken to get more bang at Randolph for the government's buck.ġ2th Operations Group Commander Col. While car and truck operators are squirming about having to pay nearly $4 for a gallon of gasoline, Randolph's training jets use JP8, a mixture of jet fuel and kerosene, at a cost of around $3.04 per gallon. Officials here say climbing fuel costs will not lessen the number of properly trained Airmen who fly out of Randolph Air Force Base.
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