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Non-Destructive Inspection: Seeing Through the B-52

Airman 1st Class Alexander Shaikh, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection journeyman, shines a black light during a fluorescent penetrant inspection at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The black light aids Shaikh in locating cracks and imperfections on parts of the B-52H Stratofortress and aircraft support equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airman 1st Class Alexander Shaikh, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection journeyman, shines a black light during a fluorescent penetrant inspection at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The black light aids Shaikh in locating cracks and imperfections on parts of the B-52H Stratofortress and aircraft support equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airman 1st Class Alexander Shaikh, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection journeyman, shines a black light during a fluorescent penetrant inspection at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The black light aids Shaikh in locating cracks and imperfections on parts of the B-52H Stratofortress and aircraft support equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airman 1st Class Alexander Shaikh, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection journeyman, shines a black light during a fluorescent penetrant inspection at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The black light aids Shaikh in locating cracks and imperfections on parts of the B-52H Stratofortress and aircraft support equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airman 1st Class Landen Johnston, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, coats a magnetized aircraft piece under an ultraviolet light at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The fluorescing particles under ultraviolet light allow Airmen to easily locate cracks and imperfections on magnetized aircraft parts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airman 1st Class Landen Johnston, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, coats a magnetized aircraft piece under an ultraviolet light at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The fluorescing particles under ultraviolet light allow Airmen to easily locate cracks and imperfections on magnetized aircraft parts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

A magnetic particle bath fluoresces under ultraviolet light during a magnetic particle inspection at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The fluorescing particles under ultraviolet light allow Airmen to easily locate cracks and imperfections on magnetized aircraft parts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

A magnetic particle bath fluoresces under ultraviolet light during a magnetic particle inspection at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The fluorescing particles under ultraviolet light allow Airmen to easily locate cracks and imperfections on magnetized aircraft parts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Staff Sgt. Darrell Cross-Williams, 5th Maintenance Squadron assistant NCO in charge of non-destructive inspection, examines x-ray film at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 17, 2016. Non-destructive inspection Airmen from the 5th MXS utilize x-rays for inspecting welds on the B-52H Stratofortress. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Staff Sgt. Darrell Cross-Williams, 5th Maintenance Squadron assistant NCO in charge of non-destructive inspection, examines x-ray film at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 17, 2016. Non-destructive inspection Airmen from the 5th MXS utilize x-rays for inspecting welds on the B-52H Stratofortress. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

A magnifying glass enlarges a section of x-ray film at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 17, 2016. Non-destructive inspection Airmen from the 5th Maintenance Squadron utilize x-rays for inspecting welds on the B-52H Stratofortress. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

A magnifying glass enlarges a section of x-ray film at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 17, 2016. Non-destructive inspection Airmen from the 5th Maintenance Squadron utilize x-rays for inspecting welds on the B-52H Stratofortress. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airmen from the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron clean grease from aircraft parts before a magnetic particle inspection at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. All debris and grease are removed to prevent contamination of the particle bath during the inspection process. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airmen from the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron clean grease from aircraft parts before a magnetic particle inspection at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. All debris and grease are removed to prevent contamination of the particle bath during the inspection process. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airman 1st Class Landen Johnston, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, performs a magnetic particle inspection under an ultraviolet light at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The fluorescing particles under ultraviolet light allow Airmen to easily locate cracks and imperfections on magnetized aircraft parts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airman 1st Class Landen Johnston, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice, performs a magnetic particle inspection under an ultraviolet light at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The fluorescing particles under ultraviolet light allow Airmen to easily locate cracks and imperfections on magnetized aircraft parts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airman 1st Class Alexander Shaikh, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection journeyman, bathes an aircraft part in an emulsifier at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The emulsifier projects previously applied penetrant in cracks during a fluorescent penetrant inspection. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

Airman 1st Class Alexander Shaikh, 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection journeyman, bathes an aircraft part in an emulsifier at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 18, 2016. The emulsifier projects previously applied penetrant in cracks during a fluorescent penetrant inspection. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --