Products cut from metal by a waterjet machine at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division applied manufacturing facility were on display for aviators from Carrier Air Wing 7 during a Feb. 3 tour. Ron Pruitt, right, head of the systems assembly branch, explains the process. About 25 crewmembers from VFA-11, 211, 81, and 103 spent three days at China Lake meeting with the NAWCWD workforce at VX-31, the China Lake Propulsion Lab, and the Advanced Weapons Integration Lab. Capt. John Bixby, deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing 7, also brief the workforce about the wing’s recent deployment. “It was an extremely valuable experience for all of our aircrew, and they are excited to share what they learned with other folks along the flight line,” said VFA-11 Operations Officer Lt. Cmdr. Cassidi Reese, center. (U.S. Navy photo)
Fleet visits China Lake to see NAWCWD capabilities
Aviators from Carrier Air Wing 7 inspect the capabilities on display in the robotics lab of the applied manufacturing facility at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake. (U.S. Navy photo)
An aviator from Carrier Air Wing 7 check out a 3-D printed part during a Feb. 3 tour of the applied manufacturing facility at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake. (U.S. Navy photo)