Fabrication Flight, fixing the fleet

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Ababan, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight, performs tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding on a piece of metal at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Sept. 15, 2020. The Fabrication Flight maintains the structural integrity of aircraft using specialized tools and equipment to repair damage and fabricate replacement parts, ensuring the 48th Fighter Wing remains a ready and capable force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

Fabrication Flight, fixing the fleet

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Ababan, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight, conducts his tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding certification at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England Sept. 15, 2020. The Fabrication Flight maintains the structural integrity of aircraft using specialized tools and equipment to repair damage and fabricate replacement parts, ensuring the 48th Fighter Wing remains a ready and capable force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

Fabrication Flight, fixing the fleet

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Ababan, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight, inspects tungsten inert gas (TIG) welds on a piece of metal at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Sept. 15, 2020. The Fabrication Flight maintains the structural integrity of aircraft using specialized tools and equipment to repair damage and fabricate replacement parts, ensuring the 48th Fighter Wing remains a ready and capable force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

Fabrication Flight, fixing the fleet

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Derek Kettler, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight, operates an abrasive water jet machine at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Sept. 15, 2020. The Fabrication Flight maintains the structural integrity of aircraft using specialized tools and equipment to repair damage and fabricate replacement parts, ensuring the 48th Fighter Wing remains a ready and capable force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

Fabrication Flight, fixing the fleet

An abrasive water jet machine cuts an aircraft bracket from a sheet of aluminum at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Sept, 15, 2020. The machine uses a combination of water and fine garnet abrasive material, forced through a 0.015” mixing tube at a pressure of 32,000 psi to slice through various metals to create a multitude of aircraft components to keep the 48th Fighter Wings fleet of F-15’s in top flying condition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

Fabrication Flight, fixing the fleet

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Derek Kettler, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight, removes an aircraft bracket from a sheet of aluminum at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Sept. 15, 2020. The Fabrication Flight maintains the structural integrity of aircraft using specialized tools and equipment to repair damage and fabricate replacement parts, ensuring the 48th Fighter Wing remains a ready and capable force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

Fabrication Flight, fixing the fleet

Senior Airman Tristan Casner, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight, inspects an aircraft component at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Sept. 15, 2020. The Fabrication Flight maintains the structural integrity of aircraft using specialized tools and equipment to repair damage and fabricate replacement parts, ensuring the 48th Fighter Wing remains a ready and capable force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

Fabrication Flight, fixing the fleet

Senior Airman Tristan Casner, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight, uses a rotating wire brush to remove signs of corrosion from an aircraft component at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Sept. 15, 2020. The Fabrication Flight maintains the structural integrity of aircraft using specialized tools and equipment to repair damage and fabricate replacement parts, ensuring the 48th Fighter Wing remains a ready and capable force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

Fabrication Flight, fixing the fleet

Published Sept. 17, 2020
By Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --