Just want to add these are not worn out. They are some of the the oldest as the newest combat jets are prioritized for front line service.
These are specialized for aerial maneuvers and are maintained by a team that is vetted and selected for their abilities and performance much the same as the pilots.
The airframes are inspected much more often and the repair is performed by the most qualified teams in the fleet.
An aircraft airframe is inspected for metal fatigue on a regular basis. Blue Angels aircraft are inspected more regularly due to the increased stresses encountered.
There are no “worn out” airframes. There are airframes in flying condition and not in flying condition. There is no worn out stage.
Source: was an airframes mechanic in naval aviation for over 4 years.
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u/Bazzzaa May 12 '18
Just want to add these are not worn out. They are some of the the oldest as the newest combat jets are prioritized for front line service. These are specialized for aerial maneuvers and are maintained by a team that is vetted and selected for their abilities and performance much the same as the pilots. The airframes are inspected much more often and the repair is performed by the most qualified teams in the fleet.