McDONNELL DOUGLAS (MDC) HAS BEGUN marketing its Flashjet paint-removal system to other aircraft manufacturers, operators and maintenance centres. The Flashjet uses a combination of pulsed light-energy and carbon-dioxide pellets to remove paint without creating toxic waste. The system was developed for the US Air Force, which is installing a production Flashjet for MDC F-15 paint removal. The system uses a six-axis gantry robot and is suitable for stripping parts and small aircraft. MDC is now developing a mobile, semi-automatic system capable of being used to strip large aircraft. Cold Jet manufactures the dry-ice pellet system and EG&G the xenon flash-lamp.
Source: Flight International
