Airmen from the facility troubleshoot engines by running them in a controlled environment.

Taken on Mar. 3, 2017, the interesting photo in this post shows an F-16CM Fighting Falcon F-110 engine running at max afterburner power at a test cell facility at Shaw Air Force Base (AFB), S.C..

At about 15 feet in length, the General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan engine produces approximately 29,000 pounds of thrust.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kathryn R.C. Reaves)

(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kathryn R.C. Reaves)

As explained by Airman 1st Class Kathryn Reaves, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, in the article Airmen test engine at max afterburner power, the 20th Component Maintenance Squadron test cell facility at Shaw AFB, is responsible for ensuring F-16CM Fighting Falcon engines are mission ready. Airmen from the facility troubleshoot engines by running them in a controlled environment and collecting diagnostic information.

This article by Dario Leone originally appeared on The Aviation Geek Club in 2017.

Image: DVIDShub.