An infomercial inspired William Durham, with the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, Okla., to try a steamer and detergent, instead of the current hazardous chemicals, to clean the carbonized fuel, called coking, off of F-15 engine parts. The experiment yielded clean fuel distribution bodies, eliminated the environmentally hazardous chemical cleanser, and has saved the Air Force tens of thousands of dollars. And, it netted Durham $10,000 from the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program.
Facing competition from fast-growing startups, Lockheed Martin is speeding up production of an “affordable, scalable” hypersonic glide body, dubbed the Next Generation Glide Body, the firm said in a June 24 release.