New Paint Booth, Fab-ulous

Since its completion last year, the new paint booth installed at the 403rd Wing Fabrication Flight has boosted productivity ten fold. Senior Airman John Kane, an aviation structural mechanic at the shop, is one of the many fab technicians who paint on an almost daily basis to keep up with aircraft painting and retouching needs. Airman Kane said painting C-130J parts, as well as servicing aircraft after bird strikes are two of his favorite parts of the job (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. J. Justin Pearce)

New Paint Booth, Fab-ulous

Published Nov. 2, 2013
By Capt. J. Justin Pearce
403rd Wing

11/01/2013 - Keesler AFB, Miss. - -- Since its completion last year, the new paint booth installed at the 403rd Wing Fabrication Flight has boosted productivity ten fold. In the times before the paint booth, the fab flight would have to send anything that needed painting to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Considering the two hour drive, they'd have to send these items that needed painting over to Eglin in batches, which caused delays lasting from one to two weeks. Now, its smooth painting and, for the most part, same day turn-around time for paint jobs. Senior Airman John Kane, an aviation structural mechanic at the shop, is one of the many fab technicians who paint on an almost daily basis to keep up with aircraft painting and retouching needs. "We're painting at least three times a week, and some weeks we paint every day," said Airman Kane. Airman Kane said painting C-130J parts, as well as servicing aircraft after bird strikes are two of his favorite parts of the job.