How Hot is Your Office

How Hot is Your Office

Courtesy of Alan Cooper

The Desert Airman
Davis-Monthan AFB
by Sgt. Paul Miller

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IGNITION--Lt. Col Avery J. Miller, commander of the 4457th Tactical Training Squadron, fires up a McDonnell F-4 Phantom for the last time. The colonel retires July 23 and is the only officer to have been with the 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing since it's arrival in 1964.

Article
How would you like to work in an office where the temperature rises as high as 135 degrees?

Such an "Office" is the D-M flightline, where maintenance crews of the 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing spend their hot summer days launching and servicing McDonnell F-4 Phantoms, a necessary part of the wing mission.

"The aircraft metal gets so hot by noon that it's almost impossible to touch." said A1C Gary Hickock of the 4453rd Organizational Maintenance Squadron. "I really think you could fry an egg on the wing."

The flightline is hotter than other places on base because of the concrete surface, which reflects heat more than ground, trees, buildings and other objects. Also, the exhaust from jet engines adds to the heat and discomfort, making life on the flightline more difficult. Maintenance men working on the flightline are not issued sunglasses, as are the pilots. For those who work up to 10 or 12 hours a day bombarded by a brilliant sun during most of that time, sunglasses are a necessity.

During the colder months, it can be quite chilly on the flightline, and crews must work in rain, wind and occasionally, snow or sleet. In February, mornings are so cold that jackets are required but in the afternoons shirts must be shed because of the heat.

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