Reserve maintainers launch unique remembrance flight

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jessica Martin
  • 926th Group public affairs
An all-Reserve aircraft maintenance crew recently came together to support a Veterans Day celebration in Mesquite, Nev.

As partners of the surrounding community, 926th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron personnel launched an F-15 Aggressor two-ship from Nellis Air Force Base to fly over a parade in Mesquite.

"This was a very memorable moment in my career," said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Brunin, 926 AMXS and 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent. "This flyover demonstrates the Reserve's ability to perform significant maintenance operations independently, just over two years from being activated to execute the Chief of Staff of the Air Force's Total Force Integration initiative at Nellis."

Through TFI, reservists regularly augment the active-duty force, providing additional manpower and expertise, as well as continuity.

This event highlighted the skill of the 926 AMXS Reserve maintainers and the strong partnership and trust that has been built between them and the active duty's 57th Maintenance Group at Nellis.

"The launch reaffirms a successful team effort with our active-duty counterparts," said Brunin. "The 926 AMXS' integration into the Flanker Aircraft Maintenance Unit has certainly been a valuable and worthwhile partnership with a very promising future," said Brunin.

In addition to the testament of TFI's achievement here, the flyover was unique as one of the jets is the first American F-15 painted to replicate a Russian SU-35 aircraft.

"The mission of the Aggressors is to know, teach and replicate the threat - past, present and future," said Maj. Julius Romasanta, 65th Aggressors Squadron director of operations. "The new paint scheme helps train our forces with the latest and greatest knowledge at our disposal."

The idea for the project originated internally two years ago. In total, five aircraft will receive the new paint scheme, scheduled for completion in fall 2012.

The template design was created from scratch and it simplified painting procedures by avoiding multiple colors on any single aircraft panel.

The first aircraft took approximately three weeks to finish, including the paint job followed by a weight and balance check to ensure the new paint was not too light or heavy to interfere with functionality.

"This project truly represents TFI among the active duty, Reserve and civilian contractors who created a beautiful piece of machinery," said Romasanta. "Choosing to fly this aircraft was a great way to showcase that teamwork."