Bend that Metal:

March 1, 2007

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

The “backshops” of the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron in Southwest Asia routinely fabricate custom aircraft parts or other equipment when those components are needed quickly or are no longer produced by the manufacturer. SrA. Erik Hofmeyer reports that the aircraft structural maintenance and metals technology technicians of the 379th bend and wrap the metal that covers deployed aircraft, but they also can make metal parts for just about anything, provided they have a sample. (Last fall, we covered similar work performed by airmen of the 332nd EMXS at Balad AB, Iraq.)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Draft Memo Offers First Look at Pentagon Acquisition Reforms

Air Force to Retain ‘Platinum’ F-15C/Ds Four More Years for Homeland Defense

No Golden Dome Requirements Yet, but Space Firms Already Betting on Dual-Use Tech

General Atomics Flies Second CCA, Announces New Ground-Attack Drone  

Related

Airmen Cleared to Start Training on New EA-37 Compass Call Simulator

Nov. 5, 2025
The Air Force has approved Airmen to start training with the EA-37B Compass Call Mission Crew Simulator, BAE Systems announced. The system will provide realistic training and mission rehearsal for EA-37B crews, who perform long-range electromagnetic warfare missions.

Air Force Conducts Unarmed ICBM Launch as Trump Ponders Nuclear Tests

Nov. 5, 2025
Air Force Global Strike Command tested an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in the early hours of Nov. 5, the service announced. The tests, which have been carried out at regular intervals for decades, came as Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted the development of two new nuclear weapons…

Air Force Installations Nominee Endorses More Privatized Housing

Nov. 5, 2025
In written testimony to the Senate, the nominee to oversee the Air Force’s installations and energy enterprise endorsed the continued privatization of military housing and called for the department to think more during the acquisition process about how it will power new weapons systems when the logistics supply chain is…

Report: Pentagon Can’t Forget About PNT for Golden Dome

Nov. 5, 2025
The Pentagon should establish a dedicated budget to support Golden Dome’s positioning, navigation, and timing needs and assign a PNT lead to coordinate needed improvements to ground and space-based navigation systems, according to a new report from the National Security Space Association. 

New Report: Space Force Must Take ‘Decisive’ Steps Toward Dynamic Operations

Nov. 4, 2025
The Space Force should take bold, decisive steps—and soon—to develop the capabilities and architecture needed to support more flexible, dynamic operations in orbit and counter Chinese aggression and technological progress, according to a new report from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. 

General Atomics Flies Second CCA, Announces New Ground-Attack Drone  

Nov. 4, 2025
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has flown a second YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, stepping up the pace of testing for the new uncrewed fighter escort. The company also announced “Gambit 6,” a fresh variant in its CCA family meant for air-to-ground missions.

Draft Memo Offers First Look at Pentagon Acquisition Reforms

Nov. 4, 2025
The Pentagon is readying a slew of reforms to its acquisition practices designed to speed up the military’s process for buying weapons and systems and structure its program offices to prioritize competition and commercial capabilities, according to a draft memo.