Fleet Readiness Middle East (FRCE) lately welcomed aviation icon Fats Albert and its group for scheduled inspections and upkeep, which gave FRCE a singular alternative to study from the “better of the most effective.”
FRCE’s Minor Depot Inspection (MDI) Workforce labored alongside the Blue Angels Fats Albert Upkeep Workforce to finish annual upkeep and inspections on Fats Albert, the Blue Angels’ C-130J Tremendous Hercules help plane.
In accordance with Employees Sgt. Patrick Angles, who serves as each the Fats Albert upkeep employees noncommissioned officer in cost and engine mechanic, working with FRCE’s MDI Workforce lowered time spent on the plane’s upkeep and inspections by 50%.
“We’ve got seen how working with them has made the method significantly quicker,” mentioned Angles. “It sometimes takes a bit longer as we’re all ‘considered one of ones,’ which means we solely have one airframer, one engine mechanic, one flight tools mechanic and so forth. Having the additional palms has helped tremendously.”
Not solely did working alongside the Blue Angels group lower the turnaround time for the plane’s inspections, but it surely additionally offered FRCE workers with helpful publicity, in response to Mike Edwards, aid supervisor for the C-130 platform.
“We’ve realized so much. They’re very educated, the highest of their class,” mentioned Edwards. “We’ve got a variety of youthful workers who’re nonetheless studying and, on this state of affairs, they get to study from the most effective of the most effective. That may solely assist us as a facility as a result of if we’re being skilled, and skilled the fitting method, then that may have a domino impact.”
FRCE’s MDI Workforce repeatedly performs upkeep on C-130 plane, however that is their first time engaged on Fats Albert. As a transportation plane used for airshows and never designed for provider operations, Fats Albert has a distinct functionality set than typical C-130s, making this a singular expertise for FRCE workers.
“There are only a few issues Fats Albert doesn’t have {that a} typical C-130 would, for tactical use,” mentioned Edwards. “For instance, Fats Albert doesn’t have in-flight refueling capabilities. However so far as inspection processes, they’re the identical. We nonetheless test flight controls, brakes, touchdown gear and counter warfare measures.”
Affectionally referred to as “Bert” by most of the plane’s crewmembers, Fats Albert performs an vital function within the Blue Angels’ mission. Angles mentioned Bert is extra than simply an plane with a singular paint job, so guaranteeing the plane is well-maintained and correctly ready for every journey is vital.
“Bert is our fundamental supply of transportation and is liable for getting us in all places we have to go,” mentioned Angles. “Each weekend, we are going to pack up 48 Blue Angels and 40,000 kilos of substances and we go from present website to point out website; we be certain every little thing will get the place it must go.”
Blue Angels Fats Albert Upkeep Controller Sgt. Payton Lopez mentioned he hopes the Blue Angels get to work alongside FRCE’s MDI Workforce once more subsequent yr.
“As profitable as we have now been whereas right here for inspections, we hope to proceed working alongside the MDI Workforce at FRC East,” mentioned Lopez. “We can not thank them sufficient for letting us work alongside of them and making it straightforward for us, but in addition being there if we want something. I can’t stress that sufficient.”
Lopez mentioned having FRCE’s assist with the annual inspections helps the Blue Angels improve mission accomplishment and readiness.
“Something that makes the C-130 fly, we’re checking throughout this inspection,” mentioned Lopez. “We do that to make sure Bert is nice for the remainder of the air present season that begins in March.”
As part of america Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels’ mission is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of america Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a tradition of excellence and repair to the nation by flight demonstrations and neighborhood outreach, in response to the Blue Angels’ web site.
Earlier this yr, the Navy named FRCE the long run depot supply of restore for Navy C-130 plane, making this expertise much more helpful. The depot may start the brand new C-130 workload as quickly as the tip of the fiscal yr 2026.
Fats Albert and the Blue Angels Workforce will return to Cherry Level for the MCAS Cherry Level Air Present in early Might.
