The technicians at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB, Okla., took matters in hand when the Air Force realized it had no B-2 bomber spare right aft deck panels, a portion of the stealth aircraft that was not designed to be replaced, reports Ron Mullan. And, the production line was long gone. So, a 12-man team at the center began to design the tooling needed and processes, an endeavor that took them seven months before they could actually begin work. They succeeded and now have a mean to refurbish the necessary parts.
A legislative standoff has led to a lapse in a $4.26 billion small business innovation contracting program widely used by the Air Force and could spell the end of it entirely, industry sources warned Air & Space Forces Magazine.
