One of the many acronyms that the military aviation types throw around is DMMH/FH, Directed Maintenance Man Hours / Flight Hour. IOW- for every hour that Cap'n Jack is up there punching holes in the clouds, how many hours did the knuckle-draggers spend wrenching on his plane?

For example, people like to drudge up the statistic of the F-14. Granted, the ole' Tomcat was getting long in the tooth towards the end, but it's DMMH/FH was on the order of 50 hours. The more modern F/A-18 is more along the lines of 5-10.

This afternoon, having taken the day off to wrench on my car, it occurred to me that, even though my car is "reliable" (meaning it's never left me stranded) my DMMH/DH has gotta be close to 2 or 3 of late.

 

Where do you get these avatars? Needs more YO YOs

 

Oh, how I wish acronyms were only used by the aviation folks. Intel has its fair share of acronyms as well.

 

I definitely have more hours working on the car than driving when you include the MS system and work recently completed.

 

Yah, but most of the "things" you do to your car you're probably doing for the first or second time. Replacing a Hornet motor is overseen by a Chief who's done hundreds. Next time you work on your car, call Corky over and have him stand behind you and tell you exactly what to do step-by-step... I bet your man-hours drop off dramatically.

For example... Brain has his tranny-drop down to 44minutes (not something to be proud of BTW)... but it'd take me 4.4hours and I'd probably hurt myself trying to do it alone.

Intel weenies smell like Skittles and Lubriderm.

 

 

I know, it's just the general idea of how often my car goes under the wrench, as opposed to who is doing the work or how long it takes.

Most folks with "normal" cars probably incur one shop hour per 50-100 driving hours. The occasional 15 minute oil change, a set of tires here or there. Over the course of the past few years, my car has probably spent 2-3 shop hours per driving hour. And it's not the fault of maintenance at all- apart from the fact that I'm more ---- about wheel alignment and proper coolant flushes than Dick and Jane Average, my car doesn't really require any more routine maintenance than any other. It's all the projects that kill me.

* First, let's install an EMU and new injectors and a WBO2 and a MAP sensor and ...
* I think I'll build a cool mount for my in-car tuning tablet.
* Next, time for a turbo. Oh, gotta do custom AN plumbing of course.
* There'd be more space in here if I ripped out the A/C.
* Ok, now let's fabricate some custom intercooler piping and hang a big FMIC.
* BOV time. The intake pipe goes under the welder again.
* You know what, that FM BOV sucks. Re-jigger everything to fit a Chinese greddy knockoff.
* Hmm. I'd better replace the diff and axles.
* AFM removal time. A week's worth of datalogging and number-crunching.
* Guess I don't need to recirculate the BOV anymore. Fabricate mount to install K&N filter on BOV (my very first lathe project) and plug hole in suction side of turbo plumbing.
* Ok, time for a total suspension makeover, with revalved Bilsteins and custom-fabbed spring spacers.
* Hey, water-injection sounds cool. Intake pipe goes under welder for third time.
* Yeah, that was great, but I need a bigger tank. And ooh, I'll go ahead and build an automatic transfer pump and a failsafe system to defeat the MBC unless the WI system is pressurized.
* This wastegate can sucks. I think I'll fit a different one- custom bracket time.
* Hey, this Megasquirt thing sounds cool. Intake pipe goes under welder for fourth time (IAT). Also, I think I'll go ahead and fabricate a whole new engine sub-harness while I'm in there.
* Aargh, I can't get my CAS to work right. (x3)
* I know, I'll fabricate a totally custom crankwheel setup.

With all due respect to E-7 Bell, I don't think he'd of been much help on many of those.

 

Unless he's a Gunny. He'd definitely know where starbucks was to get the project running on time. And then the perfect way to liberate some go go powder from some squids to blow it up.
Ode to the Gunny cup...Ooh Rah! Get some...

God I miss the Corps.

Samnavy, I hope you are being nice to all my devildogs.

NavyUSMC


Just playin, get some of us to fix it and it would never work right. But it would be shiny.

 

After the Corps is finished polishing it, give it to the Army to get some pine oil treatment.

 

Being an A&M grad, matched with his mentality, I expect Corky is more of the CWO than an Enlistedman. However, if he did take that honorable and worthy track, with the years he has under his belt, 'twould be E-9, not E-7.

(But most importantly, he'd be wearing Air Force Blue!)

- L