WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Senior Airman Brandon Gerst checks the current flowing through the magnetic particle testing machine Dec. 2, 2011. The machine provides the ability to detect surface and slight subsurface discontinuities not seen by the human eye on aircraft mechanical parts. Gerst is a non-destructive inspection technician assigned to the 509th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Senior Airman Brandon Gerst looks for surface defects under a black light Dec. 2, 2011. The black light causes particles, which are unseen to the human eye, to become florescent. Gerst is a non-destructive inspection technician assigned to the 509th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Senior Airman Brandon Gerst looks for surface defects under a black light Dec. 2, 2011. The black light causes particles, which are unseen to the human eye, to become florescent. Gerst is a non-destructive inspection technician assigned to the 509th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Senior Airman Brandon Gerst looks for surface defects under a black light Dec. 2, 2011. The black light causes particles, which are unseen to the human eye, to become florescent. Gerst is a non-destructive inspection technician assigned to the 509th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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Needle in a haystack

Published Dec. 7, 2011