Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rodrigo Lerer, an airframe mechanic with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA(AW) 242, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, lets his feet hang off the edge of an F/A-18D Hornet aircraft wing while working on the outboard-leading-edge flap during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 in Thunder Dome hangar at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 7, 2016. The adjustments being performed on one of the squadron’s F/A-18D Hornet aircraft are part of inspections, also known as ‘phases.’ There are four phases an aircraft goes through: alpha, bravo, cha
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rodrigo Lerer, an airframe mechanic with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA(AW) 242, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, lets his feet hang off the edge of an F/A-18D Hornet aircraft wing while working on the outboard-leading-edge flap during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 in Thunder Dome hangar at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 7, 2016. The adjustments being performed on one of the squadron’s F/A-18D Hornet aircraft are part of inspections, also known as ‘phases.’ There are four phases an aircraft goes through: alpha, bravo, charlie and delta. They are performed after 200 hours of flight time and include more in-depth inspections called non-destructive inspections. During the inspections, the Marines confirm the metal hasn’t deteriorated and there’s no bonding, breaks, tears and breakage. The phases can be very time-consuming and difficult to do but are very important to ensure the pilots fly safely.
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