131105-F-LH638-192

by SrA Maeson Elleman

131105-F-LH638-192

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Lilly, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Nondestructive Inspection (NDI) technician, checks an aircraft part for cracks at the NDI shop on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 5, 2013. NDI uses multimillion-dollar equipment including an X-ray machine and a special dye that glows under a black light to inspect the integrity of roughly 500 parts a month. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Maeson L. Elleman/Released)

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Photographer's Narrative

 

I started a project in 2013 to highlight a little bit of the maintenance back shops within the 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron. Within the squadron, I visited the non-destructive inspection section, looking for a picture with lots of color. One of the Airmen in the shop helped me out a lot by running a part through a special dye that glows under a black light in order to show me some of the cracks in the part that could cripple the component. It took a little finagling with the light, but I think I got what I came for.