Environmental restoration officials at Eglin AFB, Fla., have recycled more than one million pounds of metal as they demilitarize some 50,000 BDU 33 and Mark 106 practice bombs. For this work, they are employing a method for the first time in the United States: using a commercial car crusher to demilitarize the dummy bombs prior to recycling the metal. “This method of demilitarizing the practice bombs costs us about $150,000 for one million pounds shredded,” said Ralph Armstrong, project manager with Eglin’s 96th Civil Engineer Group. He added, “Had we done it in a more traditional way, the cost would have been between $1 million and $2 million.” This work falls under the Air Force’s military munitions response program that makes munitions areas located off of active test ranges safe for reuse. (Eglin report by Mike Spaits)
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
