I've heard a little inside info on this, but didn't want to post until it was public. Some piss-poor maintainence issues going on.

SA Express-News

quote:

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The Air Force said Tuesday that it's grounded an airplane used to train novice pilots, saying it has an oil line problem. The T-6A Texan II, a propeller-driven plane that has been used over the last 14 years in the Air Force's initial Joint Primary Training
Course, which introduces students to flying, was grounded April 10,
idling 445 planes - nearly half of them flown at three Texas
installations, including Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Just how the oil line was malfunctioning or how the Air Force would train pilots while the plane remains idled wasn't clear, but Capt. Jason
Smith, a spokesman for the Air Education and Training Command at
Randolph, described the decision to ground the T-6A as precautionary. "There were no accidents or injuries in regard to the T-6 stand down," he said.

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There was a trashed engine. Luckily one flown by an IP. I've heard it is simply the oil lines to/from the oil cooler chafing on each other.

One A/C has problem they ground the whole fleet. Standard practice until they find out why and make sure it is not a flaw in design. I bet I know where you got your inside info. How is Ms Canyon doing?. AdJr up for Maj next year.

My insider says one plane went down, so they started looking at other aircraft, and found the same problem developing with them. I told her I could fix the entire fleet with $50 worth of rubber tubing and twist ties.

Cut tubing into 3" sections, split lengthwise, place over hoses that are chafing, secure with zip ties. Works great on John Deere tractors.

Congrats on the O-4! My Zoomie will get the O-3 automatic promotion in late May. Multiplied x 2, it's a great pay increase. Still looking for an August "drop" announcement to see what follow-on A/C she should get, but she's ranked highly within her IP class, so she should get what she wants. Currently serving as Assistant Flight Commander.

If they get the fleet airworthy again soon, she will be part of a T-6 four-ship that goes to USAFA for one of the pre-graduation flyovers in May. She's really pumped about that.

Damd. No more airshows in the circuit at Waco Regional.... for a while at least.

Today's reports, getting them back in the air quickly. Supposedly just wrapping the lines with teflon tape.

Was wondering why I hadn't been seeing them in my patterns around Alliance. Would LOVE to get my hands on a decommissioned Texan.

I think they're almost all back in the air now.

They are back as of Monday.