The Rapid Sustainment Office has leveraged 3D printing technologies to develop and install parts on the U.S. Air Force airlift platform. RSO worked with the Air Mobility Command, the C-5 Program Office and the 436th Airlift Wing to produce and install emergency light covers, window reveals, gasper and overhead panels on a C-5 Super Galaxy aircraft, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base said Wednesday.
The team also redesigned the aircraft’s retention handles to allow installation variation. Eddie Preston, senior engineer at RSO, said the replaced components had long lead times and additive printing only took a few days to complete.
RSO and the C-5 Program Office intends to build over 20 additional 3D printed parts from titanium and various alloys. The team also noted that field production of the completed parts may reduce production costs and reinforce weapon readiness and performance.