20 Sep 03

20 September 2003 Status at The Aquatic Hillcrest

Headline: Need Parts! Need Test Procedures!! Need COTS shipment!!!

We found the system as we left it. Ron, Bill and Sgt. Pohl analyzed the frequency synthesizer and have decided that the inputs to A6 are correct and the outputs are incorrect, therefore it seems like A6 is bad. We will try to get a loaner from the GAF depot on Monday (they are not available today). A6 is an original board, not one that we have repaired in the last 2 years.

We will put together a list of the parts we will likely need and ask the depot to provide them on Monday.

Hubert Merkel stopped by on his way through the country on motorbike tour. He is going to call DHL here in Germany Monday and ask them to determine where our COTS package was delivered. It is clear from the geography and the times on the delivery sheet faxed to me by Paula yesterday that the delivery was not made here at the Aquatic Hillcrest compound. In addition, I have asked Syracuse to send another shipment of the same items in case we do not locate the first shipment, since we can not complete our task without them.

There are three top problems at the present time:

The radar is not working. We will address that issue here with the help of the GAF and the Depot. We need to borrow parts from the Depot and use them immediately to get the radar working, and concurrently, ship the dysfunctional parts back to Syracuse to be repaired. Our agreement permits the use of parts borrowed from the depot to run and pass the tests, however, the parts must be repaired and replaced with working parts prior to completion of the testing.
The test procedures have not been located. It is imperative that Syracuse find, print and deliver these documents. I have provided a complete and dated list of the documents needed, except that I do NOT have a copy of the flight test reports. The flight test reports are classified once the test data is inserted, and I do not have them. It is imperative that the data center find the documents, print them, and ship them to us here at the site, without further delay!
The missing COTS shipment must be located.

Daily oil leak analysis: I found more droplets on the gear farther from the door, under the junction between the gear and the motor. I decided to clean everything again and get a fresh baseline. I also cleaned the oil level sensor and the wires leading from it.

Photos from today:

Sgt. Pohl, Bill and Ron debugging the A6. Oil level sensor beneath wagon wheel.

Ron Turiello, Bill Ratcliffe, Sgt. Pohl, Hubert Merkel

Up in the radome, discussing the problems in the frequency synthesizer and potential solutions

Our lunch spot after work.