Field Maintenance

Published by Airforce Magazine, online journal of the Air Force Association (AFA) May 14, 2012

Air Frame: An A-10C from the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Fighter Wing undergoes a phase inspection at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 8, 2012. The phase is one of the most elaborate of maintenance actions, requiring the removal, inspection, and service of hundreds of parts, panels, and mechanisms. At home station, this process would take 45 days to 60 days, but it typically takes just one week at Bagram thanks to round-the-clock work by maintenance crews. There are currently 18 A-10Cs at Bagram — all Air Guard machines flown by Guard pilots. They collectively fly a punishing schedule of 22 sorties a day in three shifts. Two aircraft per flight maintain on-call close air support in the southeast part of Afghanistan, according to officials at Bagram. (AFA photo by John A. Tirpak) Full size

Note: Pictured is A-10C 78-0616 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing (Arkansas ANG). Thanks to 188th FW Public Affairs for sharing this photo on their Facebook page! So I was able to find out the original source.