Stripping Fat Albert

"Fat Albert," the Blue Angels’ C-130 cargo plane used for transporting crew and equipment to air shows around the country, is undergoing a chemical de-paint process at Tinker AFB, Okla., after severe corrosion was found on it. It will take crews working three continuous shifts to thoroughly clean the aircraft of all paint, using a stripping agent to remove one layer at a time. Once the de-paint process and sheetmetal checks for any other corrosion are complete, Fat Albert will fly to Hill AFB, Utah, for full programmed depot maintenance and paint.