Acceptable Glass Window/Windshield Repair Processes and Approved Vendors

摘要

To evaluate W/WS repair processes and vendors, used C/KC-135 and B-52 W/WS wererepaired by a number of different vendors and then subjected to a series of tests to determine how they perform. The test results provide a basis for recommending repair processes and vendors. The test results indicate that repaired W/WS do not perform as well as new W/WS. The repaired W/WS showed deficiencies in an OEM inspection but performed acceptably in pressure/thermal cycle tests. They were decidedly inferior in bird impact performance, with one repaired W/WS failing catastrophically at test velocity. Recommendations for approved repair processes and vendors are contingent upon the Air Force deciding that the performance of repaired W/WS is acceptable. The data suggests that none of the four commercial repair vendors used in this program makes repairs that are either superior or inferior to the other vendors. Age and service history probably are the reasons that some W/WS perform better than others.