By / Published June 15, 2015
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Donavan Jerles, 100th Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural apprentice from Gulf Shores, Ala., selects tools to work on a honeycomb core while preparing the material for fiberglass repair June 3, 2015, on RAF Mildenhall, England. The honeycomb core is used to distribute the load stress across of the entirety of the panel. When an aircraft receives damage to skins (outside metal) the section personnel remove damage and repair it by adding more material. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gina Randall/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Donavan Jerles, 100th Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural apprentice from Gulf Shores, Ala., uses an angle grinder to work on a honeycomb core while preparing the material for fiberglass repair June 3, 2015, on RAF Mildenhall, England. The 90 degree angle grinder spins a sanding disk at a rapid rate to sand the excess core. The core is a similar structure to a bee’s honeycomb made from phenolic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gina Randall/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Cody Leaders, right, 100th Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance technician from Elizabeth, Colo., shows U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Donavan Jerles, left, 100th MXS Aircraft Structural apprentice from Gulf Shores, Ala., how to adjust a saw June 3, 2015, on RAF Mildenhall, England. The hack saw is placed in the holder to create tension on the blade so it doesn’t bow. The Airman used the saw to cut the core straight and level with the surface of the panel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gina Randall/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Donavan Jerles, left, 100th Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural apprentice from Gulf Shores, Ala., places tape on part of a flap while U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Maegen Correll, 100th MXS Aircraft Structural apprentice, checks technical orders June 3, 2015, on RAF Mildenhall, England. Flaps are devices used to alter the lift characteristics of a wing and are mounted on the trailing edges of the wings of a fixed-wing aircraft to reduce the speed at which the aircraft can be safely flown and to increase the angle of descent for landing. They shorten takeoff and landing distances. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gina Randall/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Donavan Jerles, 100th Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural apprentice from Gulf Shores, Ala., places tape on a honeycomb core preparing the surface for fiberglass repair June 3, 2015, on RAF Mildenhall, England. The honeycomb core is used to distribute the load stress across the entirety of the panel. The tape was placed on the surface to stop any excess adhesive from bonding to the surface metal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gina Randall/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Maegen Correll, 100th Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural apprentice, works on a honeycomb core preparing the surface for fiberglass repair June 3, 2015, on RAF Mildenhall, England. The honeycomb core is used to distribute the load stress across the entirety of the panel. The Airman used the saw to cut the core straight and level with the surface of the panel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gina Randall/Released)