Engine Shortage Sparks Innovation:

Aircraft maintainers at Altus AFB, Okla., decided it was time to try their hands at a never-been-done-before feat—repairing an “engine abraidable cartridge fiberglass support” on a KC-135 F108-CF-100 turbofan engine. The normal process, according to a report by Raymond Brzozowski with the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus, is to remove the engine and send it to the depot, where the mechanics would remove and replace the part. Meanwhile the losing unit would get a spare engine, but USAF is short of these engines. The 97th AMW A-team maintainers did their homework, consulted technical orders, saw repair was approved, found the necessary chemicals and compounds, and made the repair.