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Air Force F-16D Longeron Cracks First Identified July 31

Air Force F-16D Longeron Cracks First Identified July 31
Aerospace Welding supports a number of military aircraft including the F-16 fighter. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

Cracks in F-16D canopy sill longerons that caused the Air Force to ground more than half of its fleet were first discovered July 31, according to a service spokesman. The Air Force said Tuesday it recently removed 82 of its 157 two-seat F-16D fighter jets from flight status due to the discovery of canopy sill longeron cracks found between the front and rear pilot seats. Air Force spokesman Benjamin Newell said Wednesday within 24 hours of the longeron issues first…

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