The 437th Aircrew Flight Equipment fabrication shop is a unique organization. The operation, located in Charleston, South Carolina, is responsible for sewing all of the fabric pieces for Joint Base's 50 C-17 Globemasters.
According to Air Force Times, the shop, which employs 10 people, manufactures the pieces at a low cost to the military branch. By manufacturing the items this way, $40,000 is saved per aircraft, amounting to $1 million in yearly savings.
The head of the operation is Air Force veteran Bobby Pierce. He learned to sew in 1955 during his time crafting parachutes as a soldier and continued working in the field during his life after service, reported Air Force Times. At 80 years old, he has been a fixture in the shop for over 30 years and plans to continue working there for the foreseeable future.
Pierce manages a number of other veterans, many of whom started working at the shop as a way to stay involved with the Air Force, an organization they all love. According to Joint Base Charleston, the shop's employees have a combined 300 years of experience in the field.
The shop also crafts pieces for international sale, and has received orders from the United Arab Emirates, India, Canada, Australia and Kuwait, who appreciate the high-quality, hand-crafted work made by the small yet committed group of workers.