Press Airframes of stealth aircraft make heavy use of unique composites and exotic metals—often in unusual geometries. The combination of materials can make NDT inspection of aircraft skin, wing edges, and control surfaces challenging.
Nondestructive testing with eddy current equipment and specialized probes for scanning bolt holes was needed to inspect affected aircraft in the inventory. Subsequent F-15 longeron inspections found nine more aircraft affected.
Detecting these flaws before a critical incident occurred saved the airframes and prevented injuries or deaths to their crews. Stories like these highlight the critical importance of proper NDT testing in the military industry.
Source: The Role of Nondestructive Testing in Military Aircraft | Zetec
