1ASF shows off new aircraft

  • Published
  • By Lt Col. Rich Curry
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma --  Everyone attending last month's Family Day received the opportunity to take a sneak peek into the newest aircraft being flown by the wing's 1st Aviation Standards Flight. 

On ramp display a Canadian-made Bombadier 601 Challenger was parked with open door as aircrew members explained the aircraft's features to visitors. The 1st ASF converted from the BAE Hawker aircraft to the Challenger earlier this year. 

According to Lt. Col. Randall W. Peterson, 1st ASF Commander, the Challenger is a larger airframe than the previously flown Hawker and brings greater mission capabilities to the 1st ASF. "Compared to the Hawker, the Challenger is 13 feet longer, has greater maximum take off weight (up to 45,000 lbs), ten foot larger wingspan (64 foot), and 1,000 mile greater range (3,452 miles)," he said. 

Because the Challenger has a larger cabin interior, another advantage will be the ability to install electronic counter measures systems in the aircraft during warzone sorties. "The Hawker simply had no available space left inside for any type of defensive electronic equipment," Peterson said. "When we flew missions in Iraq and other hostile locations with the Hawker, we did not have much protection from enemy fire. With the Challenger we will have combat countermeasure capabilities. The 1st ASF has not been able to operate in the SWA AOR for the past 18 months due to the Hawker not having this defensive capability. Now, with the new defensive system in the Challenger, we will be able to return to SWA to support the war effort." 

The Challenger 601-3R being flown by the 1st ASF features GE CF34-3A engines that can operate at higher temperatures, and Collins Proline 4 avionics. The initial flight for this aircraft occurred on 28 September 1986. A total of 59 were built into 1996. T

he Challenger has a fuel tank in its extended tail and a typical crew size of 3. In addition to being 13 years newer than the Hawker, Colonel Peterson said the Challenger enjoys better range, better comfort and better logistical support around the world. 

The 1st Aviation Standards Flight (1st ASF) was activated in June of 1999 as a new mission for the 507th Operations Group and the Air Force Reserve. This unit, working in tandem with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), performs flight inspections of navigational-aid radar and instrument procedures at military and civilian installations in the United States and overseas. 

The flight operates from the Will Rogers International World Airport, Oklahoma City, and augments the Air Force Flight Standards Agency Detachment 1, the on-site active duty unit. The 1st ASF consists of approximately 25 people and is attached to the 507th ARW for administrative support.