EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — A groundbreaking innovation in fuel sampling, the single-point nozzle adapter (SN), is now improving safety and efficiency at Eglin Air Force Base (EAFB).
According to EAFB, with a simple five-second attachment, the adapter can gather required fuel samples from an Air Force R-11 fuel truck, ensuring aircraft fuel is free of water or contaminants.
The SN innovation eliminates two-thirds of the time and steps previously required to take samples from various fuel sources, such as trucks and mobile stations. It also significantly reduces the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals by preventing spillage or spraying during sampling.
Eglin is set to become the third base to adopt this innovation, acquiring three of the $2,700 adapters through the 96th Test Wing’s iSpark program. Currently, only two prototypes of the adapter exist.
The adapter is the brainchild of Tech. Sgt. Collin Stratton, fuels support non-commissioned officer-in-charge with the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron. Stratton’s idea has already streamlined operations and enhanced safety, offering a glimpse into the future of fuel handling for the Air Force.
Tech. Sgt. Stratton brainstormed the idea in March 2022 while working in the Kadena Air Base, Japan, fuels lab, where fuel samples are quality tested each day.
“I just kept thinking, there’s got to be a faster or easier way to take these samples,” said the 28-year-old Arizona native.
“I tried to put something together from extra equipment that might allow me to pull a fuel sample from a truck without taking the hose apart, and I realized that piece did not exist.”
After a visit to the Kadena AB innovation shop, the base metals shop helped him draft up specifications for a possible new piece of equipment that would connect directly to the fuel source and the hose that distributes the fuel.
He took those specifications to the fuel hose manufacturer, Cla-Val’s product development team and explained the need for this new tool.
Cla-Val created a prototype, while Tech. Sgt. Stratton and his flight pushed for Air Force Petroleum Agency approvals to test the adapter on the fuel equipment.
When the prototype arrived, it was essentially a modified fuel nozzle, adapter, and fuel sampler combined. Stratton’s Kadena unit began testing in the summer of 2023.
Tech. Sgt. Stratton’s idea and prototype immediately removed more than 20 steps from the fuel sampling process checklist. This, in turn, eliminated the time, tools, and tedium of disassembling part of the fuel hose to open a thumbnail-sized valve and reassemble it once sampling was complete.
“Once we put it together, we realized it was the perfect piece of equipment to remove all those steps we were doing,” said Stratton, who added he was inspired to improve fuel processes because petroleum, oil, and lubricants are why the aircraft fly.
“We can now pull a fuel sample from any equipment using a single-point nozzle to distribute aviation fuel worldwide.”
While waiting for his prototype to arrive, Tech. Sgt. Stratton deployed to Southwest Asia and discovered the same sampling issues in the deployed environment where agile combat employment is critical.
He took his adapter idea to the POL unit there, and soon, a second SN adapter prototype arrived at his deployed location. During the deployment, he discovered how valuable the SN adapter could be to POL Airmen working in joint and coalition environments.
Stratton’s SN adapter allows POL Airmen to pull fuel samples from other services and foreign distributors, testing them to ensure the fuel meets Air Force aircraft safety standards.
The capability did not exist in an AFPA-approved form before the SN adapter.
“The jet fuel we use in Air Force aircraft has very specific standards and properties it must meet. If we don’t have the capability to sample other organization’s fuel, we could be issuing fuel that doesn’t meet those standards,” said Tech. Sgt. Stratton, adding that without those fuel checks, water and contaminants can cause severe damage to an aircraft engine.
Stratton once again brought his SN adapter idea to his new flight at Eglin in 2024 and was quickly connected with the 96th Test Wing and AFWERX’s innovation incubator.
“Seeing the SN adapter in action really opened our eyes to how we can find, even in the smallest areas, ways to reduce our lengthy processes,” said Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Montgomery, POL superintendent.
“These adjustments to our daily battle rhythm makes for a more agile and capable Airman that can execute operations downrange.”
Eglin’s innovation office pushed Tech. Sgt. Stratton’s idea forward to the base’s iSpark Cell, who approved it late last month, and larger Air Force innovation projects.
The technical sergeant said he knew he would never financially benefit from his idea, and that was never his intention. His goal from the beginning was to improve the tedious and sometimes dangerous fuel sampling process.
Approximately four in 10 times a fuel sample is taken, jet fuel leaks or sprays on the individual taking the sample.
“I know the adapter works. It’s easier and safer to use and saves time,” said Tech. Sgt. Stratton, a POL Airman for 10 years with three deployments.
“Now that the product exists, we just have to get it into the hands of those POL Airmen, who will benefit from it.”
Stratton is in the second round of the Aether Sprint competition with his SN adapter and will find out if he advances sometime this month.
Generally, Airmen entering the Air Force’s innovation competitions have an idea and need funding to develop, create a prototype, and test it. Stratton said he believes he has an advantage over the competition because, in his case, he basically reverse-engineered the innovation process. His adapter has already been created, tested, and approved for Air Force use. Stratton said he just needs funding to provide it to his fellow POL Airmen.
Original story by Samual King, Jr.
