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Senior Airman Joshua, 432nd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance journeyman dons a mask designed to keep hazardous paint and composite particles from being breathed in before sanding a panel for the MQ-1 Predator Feb. 18, 2016, at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. Without the aircraft structural maintenance shop, there would be no means of organizational or field level repair for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. If the aircraft develops a structural flaw caused by wear and tear, moisture absorption or any way of structurally damaging the aircraft, it would eventually, dependent on the damage, become structurally unsound and not airworthy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christian Clausen/Released)


Structural maintainers provide backbone of RPAs

Senior Airman Joshua, 432nd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance journeyman dons a mask designed to keep hazardous paint and composite particles from being breathed in before sanding a panel for the MQ-1 Predator Feb. 18, 2016, at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. Without the aircraft structural maintenance shop, there would be no means of organizational or field level repair for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. If the aircraft develops a structural flaw caused by wear and tear, moisture absorption or any way of structurally damaging the aircraft, it would eventually, dependent on the damage, become structurally unsound and not airworthy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christian Clausen/Released)

Related Imagery
Lt. Gen. Mark Kelly, 12th Air Force commander, Col. Case Cunningham, outgoing 432nd Wing commander and Col. Julian Cheater, incoming 432nd Wing commander, salute during the singing of the national anthem at the 432nd Wing change of command July 6, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. During the event, Col. Cheater assumed command from Col. Cunningham in front of a crowd of Airmen, peers and family members. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class James Thompson)
Lt. Gen. Mark Kelly, 12th Air Force commander, presides over the 432nd Wing change of command ceremony July 6, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. During the event, the general bid farewell to Col. Case Cunningham while welcoming Col. Julian Cheater. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class James Thompson)
Col. Julian Cheater assumes command of the 432nd Wing from Lt. Gen. Mark Kelly, 12 Air Force commander July 6, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. Going forward, Col. Cheater’s priorities are: winning today’s war while preparing for contested environment, developing our Airmen, strengthening our extended Hunter family and empowering our people as they innovate the remotely piloted aircraft community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class James Thompson)
Master Sgt. Eric, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Reaper Aircraft Maintenance Unit production superintendent, stands with the engine trainer he created June 19, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. He saw a need to have a power capable training engine to practice engine rigging, which involves tuning the actuators that translate electrical signals to mechanical commands. If done improperly the engine can shutoff when not intended. The trainer allowed maintainers to train on this vital task without taking an operational aircraft out of the rotation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
In 2016, Master Sgt. Eric, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Reaper Aircraft Maintenance Unit production superintendent created an engine trainer from scavenged parts which include all the electrical components displayed for the MQ-9 Reaper maintainers at Creech Air Force Base. The trainer allows MQ-9 Reaper maintainers to practice engine maintenance at any time. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
Staff Sgt. Joshua, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron MQ-9 Reaper crew chief, uses an engine trainer to refresh his skills June 19, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The engine trainer can be programmed to display certain errors which maintainers must correct. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
The new Block 5 MQ-9 Reaper is loaded with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, a GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb and a GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition April 13, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. On 23 June, 2017, the latest version of the MQ-9 Reaper, the Block 5 variant, was successfully flown in combat in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The aircrew flew a sortie of over 16 hours with a full payload of weapons including GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. During the mission, the crew employed one GBU-38 and two Hellfires while providing hours of armed reconnaissance for supported ground forces. The Block 5 is equipped with improved electrical and communications systems which provides better software and hardware upgrades for future operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
From August to December of 2016, MQ-9 Reaper aircrews supported the Government of National Accord and other coalition partners to remove Islamic State of Iraq and Syria fighters from Sirte, Libya. On Dec. 19, 2016, Sirte was declared liberated from ISIS.
Staff Sgt. Kevin, a 432nd Wing sensor operator, flies a mission June 13, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. Kevin and other MQ-9 aircrew members assisted the Government of National Accord and other coalition partners to remove Islamic State of Iraq and Syria fighters from Sirte, Libya. In December when Sirte was declared liberated, Reaper aircrews had shot over 60 percent of the 495 U.S. conducted airstrikes of Operation Odyssey Lightning, 70 percent of those were ‘danger close’ employments, a term used to describe a minimum distance of risk from a munitions explosion to friendly forces.
From left to right, the Frankenphone, the Frankenphone 2.0 and the headset connector are displayed June 12, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The Frankenphone has filled a gap for a long term solution to communications deficiencies by routing calls from the joint terminal attack controllers to the telephone and patching it into the aircrew’s headsets. This has allowed MQ-9 aircrews to properly receive weapons strike guidance from the ground forces to take the fight to the enemy. The Frankenphone 2.0 offered improved durability and sound clarity while the headset connector is an evolution of the Frankenphone which is already integrated in the Audio Multi Level System. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
Capt. Abrham, 42nd Attack Squadron MQ-9 Reaper pilot, communicates with a joint terminal attack controller June 14, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. Members of the MQ-9 community have used the Frankenphone to improve communications with the ground forces. In 2016, another member of the 42nd ATKS, Capt. Gregory, improved the design of the Frankenphone creating the 2.0 version which offered increased durability and sound clarity. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
The 42nd Attack Squadron reach it's centennial anniversary June 13, 2017. It's lineage can be traced back to World War I where it was a training unit before being re-designated in the mid-1930's as a bombardment squadron. During World War II, the 42nd flew bomber aircraft such as the B-18 Bolo, B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator in six aerial campaigns during World War II over the Pacific theater including the Battle of Midway. In 1963, the unit inactivated and briefly returned in 1989 as an air refueling squadron, but soon inactivated again in 1990. In 2006, the 42nd became the first MQ-9 Reaper squadron and continues today providing dominant persistent attack and reconnaissance to the combatant commanders 24/7/365. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)

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