A crew chief and production superintendent from Da-vis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., took home the 3D-print-ed trophy in the Department of the Air Force's Spark Tank innovation contest for a simple idea he predicts could "solve a lot of issues across the aircraft community." Master Sgt. Justin Bauer pitched his idea, "Innovative Approach to C-130 Wheel Repair," at the 2021 Spark Tank finals during the Air Force Association's virtual Aerospace Warfare Symposium on Feb. 26. AFWERX and Air Force Deputy Chief Management Officer Rich Lombardi co-produce Spark Tank; the 2021 contest received more than 300 submissions. Bauer was one of five finalists, up against teams with ideas to prevent service-connected hearing loss, to incorporate augmented reality into briefings, to streamline workflows with a ticketing app, and to cut out the need for refueling trucks when refueling aircraft with engines running.
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