JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- When an aircraft is connected to an auxiliary power unit, this allows the maintainers to control the LAU-142/A Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air-Missile Vertical Ejection Launcher, or AVEL, for the F-22 Raptor. However, when there is no APU involved, the maintainer can manually retract and extend the AVEL using the spanner wrench.
Airman 1st Class Andrew Mathews, a 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, recognized the need for a better tool. The Jacksonville, Fla. native helped fabricate a new type of spanner wrench.
The tool is 3D printed on hard plastic material. The decision to use plastic was made because aluminum alloy or steel could damage the LAU-142 when used. With the spanner wrench, maintainers can complete the inspection on an aircraft faster and save multiple man-hours and time.
"We have designed this new tool to solve the problem," Mathews added. "Multiple prototypes were created by metal techs and fit tested by Air Force Engineering and Technical Services, leading to the current design that will facilitate the new technical orders data procedures."
Collaboration between Mathews and other members led to a solution for the maintenance problem.
The tool is now available to assist technicians with emergency AIM-20 AMRAAM downloading and on-aircraft non-powered manual extension and retraction of the AVEL during scheduled maintenance.
"Mathews devoted much of his own time getting this spanner wrench into motion," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Ritchie, 3rd AMXS weapons load crew chief. "He was motivated to get this wrench into work so that we can better accomplish our jobs."
Mathews initiative also prolongs the lifespan of the APU system by reducing the overall usage during the on-aircraft non-powered 90-day inspection – and saves the crew 15 to 30 minutes per job.
"The AVEL's lock and unlock mechanism are in a very inconvenient spot with very little clearance," Ritchie said. "The spanner wrench allows us to complete the manual extend and retract with relative ease."
Before the spanner wrench was created, the maintainers would have to remove the AVEL from the aircraft to complete the inspection.
"The development of this tool will enable [us to save time]," Mathews said. "There is pride in knowing this contribution to the sustainment of our aircraft system will have an impact Air Force-wide."