The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s B-2 Program Office has come up with a new permanent protective cover for the jet’s airframe mounted accessory drive (AMAD) panel.
Photo: USAF
The panel is on the left side of the cockpit, next to the pilot’s knees. When activated, the electrical generator and hydraulic systems will be decoupled from the engine. This will keep the engine running but without electrical and hydraulic power. When four switches are flipped at the same time, the crew has no choice but to eject as the aircraft will be without electrical and hydraulic power.
A B-2 was forced to make an emergency landing Oct. 23, 2018 in Colorado Springs after the crew flipped one of the switches. The bomber was also experiencing other rare malfunctions during the flight.
The 509th Bomb Wing then approach Knob Noster High School to ask if the school’s robotics team could help Whiteman air base with a solution to prevent the accidental flipping of the AMAD switches.
Using 3D printing, the teenagers were able to design a AMAD panel cover in 72 hours, those panels cost $1.25 a piece.
The B-2 Program Office came up with a new cover recently and the 20 covers needed was to cost approximately $4,000. These new covers have completed the airworthiness certification and will be delivered to the fleet later this year or early next year.
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