Hybrid generator could make aircraft maintenance more efficient, effective, user friendly

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

You can’t have air power without ground power says Senior Master Sgt. Jason Tilley, who is the Air Force’s lead for its Aerospace Ground Support Equipment Working Group.

Tilley, along with several members from throughout Air Force Materiel Command, AFMC Support Equipment Program Office and Research Lab, descended on Edwards AFB to test out a new hybrid flightline generator the last week of March.

The team gathered valuable insight on how its Hybrid Flightline Generator Technology Pathfinder could possibly be fielded by the Air Force.

The hybrid generator is intended to service aircraft like a regular generator that works on diesel fuel, but with a smaller engine and a bank of batteries, which can provide power to fifth-generation fighters and legacy aircraft.

“It’s not a production unit, it’s a pathfinder,” said Tom Layne, Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate. “We’re trying some technologies and testing with the [Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE)] guys and logistics to see what they like and don’t like. We got through the F-16, C-17, KC-135. The AGE crew went through it and evaluated it; they’re the customers who actually use it.”

The 412th Logistics Test Squadron hosted the hybrid generator team and had Edwards maintainers perform routine tests and technical orders using the new type of generator.

“This item is what maintainers use so it comes to this office to do the testing,” said Philip Keene, 412th MXLS logistics test manager. “It’s more of a technology demonstration, not a product. It’s an easy fit for us.”

“It’s light, it’s got a built-in generator so it powers itself so you don’t have to stop working as much,” said Tech. Sgt. Jacob Hush, 412th MXLS. “If you run out of gas on your AGE equipment, whatever you are doing, you’re done. They have to bring out a new (generator) and then hook it up and start where you left off. With this one, you can get out there on your jet longer without being interrupted.”

This is the second generator brought out to Edwards for testing.

“Last year we tested a cart that weighed 10,000 pounds,” said Layne. “This year’s cart is 4,300 pounds so it’s half the weight so it’s easier to push around and it has newer technology. I think Edwards people are accustomed to seeing new, cutting-edge stuff, so it’s nice to come out to Edwards.”

Probably the most important benefit of the hybrid flightline generator is the reduced stress it brings to maintainers. It is considerably more quiet and exhaust fumes are heavily reduced, said the testers.

“One drawback to current diesel generators is that they’re loud; hearing conservation is a benefit with the hybrid generator,” said Tilley. “Maintainers are important to the enterprise. The maintainer lays down at night and still hears the engine running in their head, so that’s what we wanted to try and capture — the physiological side. The hybrid generator also has low emissions so maintainers don’t have to go home smelling like smoke or JP-8 and stinky exhaust, and that’s what the maintainer likes.”

The hybrid flightline generator team will now evaluate their findings to decide what the next step is in the future of flightline generators.

“Whether this generator is the one is up to question, but the concept is there,” Layne said. “For us, yes, we proved that we can be more efficient, but the real win was seeing the smiles on the operators’ faces; seeing improved safety and health conditions.”