miamiair Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 How extensive a project is it to remove and replace the Rainbow Fittings? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bischoffm Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Pretty intense!! You have to worry about wing alignment, takes a few weeks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APG85 Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 It's done all the time...at depot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyChief Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 How extensive a project is it to remove and replace the Rainbow Fittings? Thanks in advance. It's done on a routine basis at depot. However, it does require removal of outer wing, not something you want to do in the field. What a cluster f&*@ it was when we found out those rainbow fittings were the weakest link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamiair Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share Posted July 30, 2010 I understand that the work is carried out at the depot level. I have read that the alignment is a must before any work is accomplished. Additionally, the outer wings have to be removed. Other than what you find in the -3, (57-199-XX) is there any other guidance for this task? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyChief Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I understand that the work is carried out at the depot level. I have read that the alignment is a must before any work is accomplished. Additionally, the outer wings have to be removed. Other than what you find in the -3, (57-199-XX) is there any other guidance for this task? I'm pretty sure that the depot folks work from engineering packages developed by WR-ALC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve1300 Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 I can tell you that, when I was travelling on wing change teams for WR/ALC, we had work packages to follow. After we removed the wings, special two-man teams would come out and do a "planarity check" on the rainbow fitings and then realign the fittings by milling down the nodes that extened too far out in the plane. They also gave us shimming requirements for when we mounted the wings back on. Once the wings were reinstalled, a team would come back using optical tools and tape measures to check the alignment of the wings. It was more guided than the instructions that we have in our maintenance manuals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamiair Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 I can tell you that, when I was travelling on wing change teams for WR/ALC, we had work packages to follow. After we removed the wings, special two-man teams would come out and do a "planarity check" on the rainbow fitings and then realign the fittings by milling down the nodes that extened too far out in the plane. Roughly, how long did it take? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyChief Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Roughly, how long did it take? I know it took a WR-ALC field team almost 30 days to replace a single cracked bottom rainbow fitting. Not sure how long it takes to do at WR-ALC proper. I believe LM Greenville had thought it would take about 45 days to do a complete set(lft,rt, upper & lower), however that really didn't work out too well..I believe it usually ran into about double that. C-130 depot work is a major part of what LM Greenville does for a living so I can imagine what it would take for an outfit that has never done it before. It's the tearing it down, putting it all back together and the disturbed system checks that really eat up the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve1300 Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Roughly, how long did it take? From the time that we arrived on base until we left, an outer wing replacement took two to three weeks. The outboard engines were removed prior to our arrival, but the wings were installed and the engines back on and all checks completed before we left. Keep in mind that we were a military team, so things like weekends and overtime was not an issue. Inboard rainbow fitting replacements are a different story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamiair Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 Thanks much, gentlemen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamiair Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 Need some more help... Anybody have the list of fasteners needed for the replacement kit? It isn't in the -4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyChief Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 Need some more help... Anybody have the list of fasteners needed for the replacement kit? It isn't in the -4. It should be called out in either the drawing or the engineering package..the -4 wouldn't have that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
partone Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 not really hard at all if you have done it before and have the tooling. I led a team that completed a complete center wing box swap out and rainbow/ corner fitting change in 90 calendar days. WR takes months and months and monts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FourToPower Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 not really hard at all if you have done it before and have the tooling. I led a team that completed a complete center wing box swap out and rainbow/ corner fitting change in 90 calendar days. WR takes months and months and monts. Not entirely true. The aircraft gets a lot more than center wing box and rainbow fitting swaps here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyChief Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Not entirely true. The aircraft gets a lot more than center wing box and rainbow fitting swaps here. That's true partone..Warner Bubba does much more than a CWB when the aircraft goes down for a change, depending on the timing..I know a large portion of SOF aircraft were getting PDMs done in conjunction with the CWB..it's all a big scheduling thing to ensure maximum return for the time the aircraft is down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Typically, in major structural component replacements, fasteners (like rivets and hi-loks) that have to be drilled or punched out, require oversized replacements. Sometimes reaming is also required. Also, there is a rainbow fitting tool for reaming the wing attach bolt holes after the new rainbow fitting is installed, and milling of the nodes for planarity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranz130 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Teams from Airod carried out a “planarity check” on the R/H side rainbow fittings and then realign the fittings by milling down the nodes that extended too far out in the plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abalada Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 On 29/07/2010 at 7:03 PM, miamiair said: How extensive a project is it to remove and replace the Rainbow Fittings? Thanks in advance. About 3000 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IOANNIS ARNELLOS Posted November 4, 2022 Share Posted November 4, 2022 I am looking for: a. One or two experienced sheet metal technicians to train our personnel or to work on the replacement of rainbow fittings (R.F.) on C-130 aircraft. b. Work must be done in Greece. For more details contact me at [email protected] I am at your disposal for any clarification you may request. Yannis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metalbasher Posted November 9, 2022 Share Posted November 9, 2022 You might be better off reaching out to a few of the MROs that perform that work to see about a travel field team to come do it for you vs. train you. Problem with training is the proficiency aspect...if you don't have many to do, your people will never become proficient. Cheaper and faster in the long run to pay someone to come to you and do it. Marshall Aerospace Group in England, L3Harris in Crestview FL, Lockheed etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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