Edwards maintainers train Beale Airmen for Global Hawk Block 20 arrival

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stacy Sanchez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In preparation for the Global Hawk Block 20 arrival at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., on June 30, several of their Airmen came to Edwards for a week of training conducted by the Global Vigilance Combined Test Force. 

A week prior to its arrival, Edwards Airmen trained Beale maintainers on recovery of the aircraft, safety for maintenance and application of initial power, downloading fault logs, and tow supervisor and driver training.

Two Edwards maintainers were also on hand the day of the arrival to help capture and recover the Global Hawk. 

"Our folks have been working with the Global Hawk Block 20 since November 2007, so we have quite the experience with this aircraft," said Dennis Collins, 412th Logistics Test Squadron logistics deputy. "If someone had to provide the training, it would be us." 

Maintainers here also taught their Beale counterparts the differences between the Global Hawk Block 10 and the Block 20. 

"The Beale Airmen were really eager to learn the differences between the Block 10 and the Block 20," said Tech Sgt. Samuel Smith, 412th Maintenance Logistics Squadron logistics test and evaluation technician. "They were excited about getting this new asset." 

Not only was the collaboration with Beale a learning experience, but it formed a symbiotic relationship between the two bases, Mr. Collins said. 

"What we've done is open the door for technical collaborations, with us as the test developer and Beale as the user," Mr. Collins said. "Together we can perform logistics tests and evaluations, which is a support ability assessment on how the aircraft will work in a wartime environment." 

Mr. Collins said it is a little out of the ordinary for Air Force Materiel Command to teach a cadre over at Air Combat Command, but this is something that will be happening again in the future. 

"It was a very good experience working with Beale," said Staff Sgt. Joshua VanDerbeck, 412th MXLS logistics test and evaluation technician. "I actually saw how the operational Air Force did day-to-day operations with the Global Hawk. I was very impressed with all the Beale maintainers, they were very eager to learn, and were excited about the new challenges.

The Global Hawk Block 20 joined seven Block 10 models assigned to Beale. The Block 20 will be used as a training tool for future operational Global Hawks.

The Block 20 aircraft is a larger aircraft than the original Block 10, with its wingspan increased from 116.2 feet to 130.9 feet. The fuselage is now 47.6 feet in length, an increase from the Block 10 variant's 44.4 feet. The payload capacity also increased from 2,000 pounds to 3,000 pounds.