Conductivity testing, via Bresle patch analysis, was performed on F-5 aircraft in Key West, FL, Fallon, NV, and Yuma, AZ to compare the level of salt contamination present at each location. The inspection locations were selected based on the observations of the pilots and maintenance staff of VFC-111, the squadron stationed in Key West, FL. The selected locations represented the areas of highest concern and recurring problem areas noticed by maintenance staff. Testing was performed at several points during the flight schedule: before the first flight of the day, following a flight, and prior to and following a scheduled clear water rinse event. The results obtained from Key West, FL and Fallon, NV indicate a large discrepancy in the amount of salt contamination present in the two locations, with Key West yielding much higher readings. These results lead the researchers to believe that the aircraft in residency in Key West should be treated in similar fashion to those maintained aboard aircraft carriers, including more frequent wash and inspection cycles, and potentially proper marinization of the aircraft with marine specific coatings.

Subject
Test methods, Marine environments, Water, Syringes, Contamination, Salts, Materials performance, Aircraft, Skin, Climate, Storage, Maintenance, Conductivity
Keywords:
atmospheric corrosion, environment, marine environments
© 2022 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2022
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
You do not currently have access to this content.