POL flight starts what could be 'benchmark' process

The 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron petroleum, oil and lubricants flight here was the first in the area of responsibility to implement a new pre-filter system for fuel which will save time and money and deliver better, cleaner fuel to the aircraft the KC-135 refuels. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)

Sun spots and spikes

During training, Staff Sgt. Wesley Magnus analyzes a spike on the sun that is displayed on the solar radio spectrograph Nov. 18, 2009, at the Sagamore Hill Solar Observatory in Hamilton, Mass. The observatory operates around the clock to obtain scientific observations of the sun. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Depaint the big easy way

An Area Multi-axis Platform, or AMP, is suspended from overhead rails to another AMP at the 402nd Maintenance Support Squadron at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Oct. 8, 2009. The operator controls the three-axis movement of the AMP and its four laser aimed nozzles that shoot compressed air and media at painted surfaces. The process breaks up the paint and reveals the bare surface underneath it. Inside the cab fresh air is pumped in for the operator and to push plastic beads and paint particles out of cab openings. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Depaint the big easy way

One of the four Area Multi-axis Platforms, or AMPs, that depaint C-130 Hercules aircraft at the 402nd Maintenance Support Squadron at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. A foreman operates the AMP from inside a cab that has fresh air pumped in for him to breathe and to push plastic beads and paint particles out of cab openings. The systems can be remotly positioned with a handheld wireless control. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Depaint the big easy way

What appears to be sand are plastic beads that are shot through four air hoses controlled by the Area Multi-axis Platforms, or AMP, to depaint aircraft at the 402nd Maintenance Support Squadron at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. A foreman operates the AMP from inside a cab that has fresh pumped in for the operator to breathe and to push plastic beads and paint particles out of cab openings. This environmentally friendly system presents a low hazard to the operators and the environment, while making the depaint process faster. Each AMP does the work of 10 people (four two-person teams with one nozzle to a team, plus additional safety/support personnel). (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Depaint the big easy way

A North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 Hercules waits for depaint operations to begin at the 402nd Maintenance Support Squadron at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Oct. 8, 2009. The four Area Multi-axis Platforms, or AMP, can be seen suspended from overhead rails. An operator controls the three-dimensional movement of the AMP and uses a set of four laser-aimed-nozzles that shoot compressed air and media at painted surfaces. The process breaks up the paint and reveals the bare surface underneath it. This environmentally friendly system presents a low hazard to the operators and the environment, while making the depaint process faster. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)