Oct. 4, 2013
Vol. 2 Issue 116
DAILY DIGEST
OF PERSONNEL THE OXYGEN THE
S
Story by MC3 (SW) George J. Penney III
Photos by MCSA (SW) Andrew W. Price
oaring through the air at incredibly high speeds, the aviators of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 have thousands of important items to think about, from aircraft instrumentation to the dangerous mission at hand. One vital piece of equipment that is often overlooked is the oxygen needed to survive in such harsh environments created at 30,000 feet. The aviators need not be afraid, as responsibility for that oxygen lies with the men and women of the O2N2 shops. “Our primary responsibility is support of the air wing,” said Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Zachary Barber, “but we also support, Medical/Dental Department
SHOP
and any department that may require the use of oxygen or nitrogen.” According to Barber, the process from creation to implementation contains multiple intricate steps and involves a good amount of patience. “The process is actually quite lengthy,” said Barber. “The high-pressure air compressors within the O2N2 pressurize the air contained within to around 3,000 pounds per square inch. Forcing it through a very small orifice and a series of expansion valves then expands the highly pressurized air. As it travels through the expansion valves, the pressure and temperature of the air drop significantly through a process CONTINUED ON PAGE 3