Richard Hensley Email & Phone Number

Davenport, Iowa, United States

Davenport, Iowa Area

Responsible for the overall design and configuration of the KC-46 Centerline Drogue System, and Flight Test Support.

Davenport, Ia

Integrated Product Team Lead for Centerline Drogue System design on KC-46 Tanker program.

Advance Design for Aerial Refueling Systems

Fuel System Design Engineer

Responsible for all geometry setting, manual interface, and torque control tooling in over 750,000 sf body assembly production line.Reviewed and approved new tooling for all major launches.Designed or Redesigned numerous tools & fixtures to improve vehicle quality, production rate, ergonomics, and reduce cost.

Established & directed fuel system design & configuration for new (FAR Part 25) business jet.Same for Fire & Overheat Protection System.Led supplier selection team for both systems.Specified full scale test mock-up and directed very successful test program in Japan and Wichita.

Led fuel system installation design effort for addition of inlet fuel tanks to the T-45A airplane. Incorporated many improvements that reduced production rework up to 80%, and improved installation repeatability resulting in significant program savings.Provided technical leadership for specification, procurement, and qualification of new fuel system components which required extensive coordination with subcontractors.Conducted several Advance Design studies for AV-8B, Joint Advanced Strike Technology, and F-15 Projects.

Conducted failure analysis program and established new acceptance test procedures for discrepant hydraulic brake system components which had grounded the T-45A fleet, resulting in customer (US Navy) authorization to resume flight operations.Led MD-12 wing fuel system installation design layout effort (80% of the total aircraft fuel system). Conducted numerous trade studies to optimize the installation for FAR Part 25 compliance, system performance, weight, cost, and maintainability.Coordinated F-15 Hydraulic Group design activities to sustain production and customer fleet.Directed design, and approved supplier data for subcontracted hydraulic system equipment.Analyzed and coordinated solutions to production, in service, and subcontractor problems, including conducting several failure analyses on failed components.

Greater St. Louis Area

Designed and supervised design of several A-12A fuel system installations. Developed procurement specifications, directed design, and approved supplier data for subcontracted fuel system equipment.Developed new Aluminum / Conductive Elastomer Electromagnetic Interference Seal for use between carbon fiber composite structure and metallic fittings and components (This new design saved over $1 Million in the first 7 ships compared to the baseline configuration).Designed new redundant seal, replaceable fuel bulkhead fitting system for piping and componentsInterface coordinator for fuel system splices between MCAIR and General Dynamics. MCAIR coordinator for Dry Bay Fire Protection System Installation (this used an optically sensed, pyrotechnic discharged, linear fire extinguisher).Designed solutions to AV-8B in-service and production problems with Fuel, Water, and Secondary Power System installations.Coordinated solutions to supplier in-service and production problems, and approved supplier data for subcontracted equipment.