Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop refurbishes CV-22 Blade

/ Published August 20, 2020

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Staff Sgt. Alex Poteet (left), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, Tech Sgt. Derek Spencer (middle), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, and Airman 1st Class Isaiahlee Elizardo (right), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, pose in front of the final refurbished CV-22 blade at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on August 14, 2020. The refurbishment process is a multi-day undertaking to ensure each task is effectively completed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

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Tech. Sgt. Derek Spencer (left), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, oversees Airman 1st Class Isaiahlee Elizardo (right), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, as he prepares to sand a CV-22 blade inside a Retractable Painter Containment System at Yokota Air Base, Japan, August 11, 2020. The containment system allows for maintenance on site rather than sending blades to an alternate location with a permanent facility. CV-22 blades require refurbishment every year to avoid degradation and maintenance errors. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

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Tech. Sgt. Derek Spencer (left), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, oversees Airman 1st Class Isaiahlee Elizardo (right), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, as he prepares to sand a CV-22 blade inside a Retractable Painter Containment System at Yokota Air Base, Japan, August 11, 2020. The containment system allows for maintenance on site rather than sending blades to an alternate location with a permanent facility. The system has a six stage filtration system and keeps harmful chemicals from contaminating the surrounding area. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

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Tech Sgt. Derek Spencer (left), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, Staff Sgt. Alex Poteet (middle), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, and Airman 1st Class Isaiahlee Elizardo (right), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, finish putting on Personal Protective Equipment before applying paint primer to a CV-22 blade at Yokota Air Base Japan, August 12, 2020. PPE ensures individuals are protected from harmful chemcials. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

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Tech. Sgt. Derek Spencer, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, shows off his Personal Protective Equipment gear at Yokota Air Base, Japan, August 12, 2020. PPE ensures individuals are protected from harmful chemcials. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

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Staff Sgt. Alex Poteet, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, mixes paint primer before applying to the CV-22 blade at Yokota Air Base, Japan, August 12, 2020. Paint primer is applied before applying rain erosion protectant and the final top coat of paint on the CV-22 blade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

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c Paint primer is applied before applying rain erosion protectant and the final top coat of paint on the CV-22 blade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

ech. Sgt. Derek Spencer (left), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, and Airman 1st Class Isaiahlee Elizardo (right), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, prepare a CV-22 blade for paint primer at Yokota Air Base, Japan, August 12, 2020.

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Tech. Sgt. Derek Spencer (left), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, and Airman 1st Class Isaiahlee Elizardo (right), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, prepare a CV-22 blade for paint primer at Yokota Air Base, Japan, August 12, 2020. Paint primer is applied as a part of a multi-step process when refurbishing CV-22 blades which includes: sanding, applying paint primer, rain erosion protectant and the final top coat. The process is a multi-day undertaking to ensure each task is effectively completed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

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Tech. Sgt. Derek Spencer (left), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, and Airman 1st Class Isaiahlee Elizardo (right), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, prepare the CV-22 blade for paint primer at Yokota Air Base, Japan, August 12, 2020. Paint primer is applied as a part of a multi-step process when refurbishing CV-22 blades which includes: sanding, applying paint primer, rain erosion protectant and the final top coat. The refurbishment process is a multi-day undertaking to ensure each task is effectively completed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

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Staff Sgt. Alex Poteet (left), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, and Airman 1st Class Isaiahlee Elizardo (right), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, apply a coat of paint primer to a CV-22 blade inside of a Retractable Painter Containment System at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on August 12, 2020. The containment system allows for maintenance on site rather than sending blades to an alternate location with a permanent facility. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

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The final product of a fully refurbished CV-22 blade completed by the 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on August 14, 2020. The refurbishment process is a multi-day undertaking to ensure each task is effectively completed. The cost of each CV-22 blade is $629,391. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryann Holzapfel)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --

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