Airman's $15 Invention Could Save the Air Force Millions

[rangerrebew]

Airman's $15 Invention Could Save the Air Force Millions
 
5 Mar 2020
Stars and Stripes | By Christopher Dennis

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- A $15 tool developed by an airman at RAF Mildenhall could save the Air Force millions of dollars a year by greatly reducing the time needed to find fuel tank leaks.

The 3D printed, pressurized leak detection cup developed by Staff Sgt. Patrick Leach decreases by up to 75% the time it takes to detect leaks in fuel tanks, the 100th Air Refueling Wing said in a statement.

The new tool has been authorized for use on KC-135 refueler aircraft at RAF Mildenhall, where it's estimated it will save $1.5 million a year in man hours.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/03/05/airmans-15-invention-could-save-air-force-millions.html

[catfish1957]

Airman's $15 Invention Could Save the Air Force Millions
 
5 Mar 2020
Stars and Stripes | By Christopher Dennis

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- A $15 tool developed by an airman at RAF Mildenhall could save the Air Force millions of dollars a year by greatly reducing the time needed to find fuel tank leaks.

The 3D printed, pressurized leak detection cup developed by Staff Sgt. Patrick Leach decreases by up to 75% the time it takes to detect leaks in fuel tanks, the 100th Air Refueling Wing said in a statement.

The new tool has been authorized for use on KC-135 refueler aircraft at RAF Mildenhall, where it's estimated it will save $1.5 million a year in man hours.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/03/05/airmans-15-invention-could-save-air-force-millions.html

This is beyond cool.  Triple Kudos to this young man.  Hope the USAF rewards him in some way, since he probbaly signed away patent rights at enlistment.

[Bigun]

This is beyond cool.  Triple Kudos to this young man.  Hope the USAF rewards him in some way, since he probbaly signed away patent rights at enlistment.

Many years ago now a fellow I know spent a year of his free time figuring out how to cut Dow's metal handling costs in half with a revised packaging scheme.  His reward; $100.00 and two tickets for a free dinner at the Dow cafeteria.

[rangerrebew]

This is beyond cool.  Triple Kudos to this young man.  Hope the USAF rewards him in some way, since he probbaly signed away patent rights at enlistment.

One way tickets to Adak, Alaska?

[GtHawk]

This story reminds of one I saw decades ago where a soldiers suggestion saved the military millions of dollars. The suggestion was to eliminate the watch pockets in the uniforms, pocket watches having been replaced by wristwatches for years.