U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathaniel Opala, an airframe

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathaniel Opala, an airframe mechanic with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA(AW) 242, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, verifies the wing panel of an F/A-18D Hornet aircraft is properly aligned while being lowered during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 in Thunder Dome hangar at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 7, 2016. The adjustments being performed on one of the squadron’s F/A-18D Hornet aircraft are part of inspections, also known as ‘phases.’ There are four phases an aircraft goes through: alpha, bravo, charlie and delta. They are performed after 200 hours of flight time and include more in-depth inspections called non-destructive inspections. During the inspections, the Marines confirm the metal hasn’t deteriorated and there’s no bonding, breaks, tears and breakage. The phases can be very time-consuming and difficult to do but are very important to ensure the pilots fly safely.