Consistency Achieved: Air Force Research Lab engineers and Aeronautical Systems Center B-2 program officials at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, have agreed on a new process to ensure consistency in production of a new material that will significantly reduce maintenance man-hours on the B-2 bomber fleet. Flight tests validated the use of Alternate High Frequency Material to replace tape covering access panel gaps and fasteners, but AHFM performance proved inconsistent from batch to batch. Within weeks, AFRL “developed and validated a repeatable manufacturing process” for large quantities (500 gallon batches), said Air Force Materiel Command officials.
Members of the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing helped save 11 airplane crash survivors off the coast of Florida on May 12. The Reserve Airmen were flying an HC-130J Combat King II and an HH-60W Jolly Green II on a routine training flight when a Coast Guard call diverted…