U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel San Miguel, an aerospace propulsion journeyman with the 35th Maintenance Squadron, oversees an F110-GE-129 engine being tested during its afterburner phase at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 4, 2016. Each engine is tested multiple times for consistency and safety to ensure each engine has the capability to reach peak performance. San Miguel hails from Oceanside, California. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)

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Start engine, increase throttle

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brittney Rogerson, an aerospace propulsion craftsman with the 35th Maintenance Squadron, increases the thrust of an F10-GE-129 engine during a routine engine test at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 4, 2016. Propulsion Airmen monitor and control the engine test in a portable testing cab. During the test, the cab measures the engine’s parameters, speed, temperatures and vibrations. Rogerson hails from York, Pennsylvania. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Peacock, an aerospace propulsion craftsman with the 35th Maintenance Squadron, inspects the exhaust of an F110-GE-129 engine after a test run at Misawa Air Base, Feb. 4, 2016. The most common issues that arise with F-16 Fighting Falcon engines are oil and fuel leaks or abnormal vibrations. Peacock hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel San Miguel, an aerospace propulsion journeyman with the 35th Maintenance Squadron, removes an oil sample from an F110-GE-129 engine after a test performance at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 4, 2016. Propulsion Airmen tests one to two engines weekly from here, Osan and Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. San Miguel hails from Oceanside, California. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)

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Falcon's strength tested by propulsion Airmen

Published Feb. 8, 2016
By Senior Airman Deana Heitzman
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The sound-proof building occasionally bathed in a purple glow and emitting an earth-shattering roar is home to propulsion Airmen from the 35th Maintenance Squadron test cell.

More commonly referred to as the "hush house," Airmen test one to two engines weekly to ensure they're fully capable to properly perform inside F-16 Fighting Falcons.

Home-based engines as well as engines shipped from Osan and Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, are sent to the propulsion maintenance back shop if an issue with an engine arises. The most common problems that occur are oil and fuel leaks or abnormal vibrations. After Airmen from the back shop diagnose and repair the problem, the engine is sent to the test cell.

Test cell Airmen then attach the engine to an apparatus that measures the engine's parameters, speed, temperatures and vibrations. Although these Airmen's main goal is to test the engines, they have the power to repair basic issues while doing their pre-checks and post-checks. For major problems, the engine is returned to the back shop.

Start engine, increase throttle

Exhaust illumination