$U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Bennett, 100th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, performs a magnetic particle inspection on a sample part, at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. Magnetic particle inspections identify stress fatigue fractures on a high variety of parts, varying from bolts, tow bars and other supporting aerospace ground equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)$

Airman 1st Class

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Bennett, 100th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, performs a magnetic particle inspection on a sample part, at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. Magnetic particle inspections identify stress fatigue fractures on a high variety of parts, varying from bolts, tow bars and other supporting aerospace ground equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

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Airman 1st Class

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Bennett, 100th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, calibrates an ultrasonic unit to varying shim sizes testing thickness at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. A shim is a piece of plastic or metal that are used as reference standard for how thick the area is tested. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

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Airman 1st Class

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Bennett, 100th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, performs a magnetic particle inspection on sample part, at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. The magnetic particle inspection is used to look for cracks on welded areas of equipment, varying from bolts, tow bars and other supporting aerospace ground equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

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$U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Bennett, 100th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, performs a magnetic particle inspection on a sample part, at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. Magnetic particle inspections identify stress fatigue fractures on a high variety of parts, varying from bolts, tow bars and other supporting aerospace ground equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)$

Airman 1st Class

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Bennett, 100th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, performs a magnetic particle inspection on a sample part, at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. Magnetic particle inspections identify stress fatigue fractures on a high variety of parts, varying from bolts, tow bars and other supporting aerospace ground equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

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Airman 1st Class

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Bennett, 100th Maintenance Squadron non -destructive inspection apprentice, calibrates an ultrasonic unit to varying shim sizes testing thickness at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. A shim is a piece of plastic or metal that is used as a reference standard for how thick the area is being tested. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

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Airman 1st Class

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Bennett, 100th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, calibrates an ultrasonic unit to varying shim sizes testing thickness at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. A shim is a piece of plastic or metal that is used as a reference standard for how thick the area is being tested. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alex Dixson, 100th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, performs a bond test on a sample panel using ultrasonic inspection at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. The tool is used to check for separation in parts, finding potential weak points throughout the panels of an aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alex Dixson, 100th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, uses an ultrasonic inspection tool to perform a bond test on a sample panel at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. The tool is used to check for separation in parts, finding potential weak points throughout the panels of an aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

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U.S. Air Force Airman tests sample oil collections with the Oil Analysis Program machine at RAF Mildenhall, England, Feb. 7, 2019. The testing of sample oil helps standardize the OAP unit. When oil samples are taken from the aircraft, the OAP has a baseline to compare. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

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NDI; Exposing the cracks

Published Feb. 22, 2019
By Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee
100 Air Refueling Wing

RAF Mildenhall, England -- Non-destructive inspection technicians perform five different types of inspections – x-ray, ultrasonic, eddy current, magnetic particle and penetrant – to detect abnormalities. NDI Airmen are tasked with ensuring aircraft and weapons systems parts are structurally safe with no damage, flaws or stress fractures.
The Bloody Hundredth Airmen take pride in exposing the cracks to keep the mission moving.

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