Richard fired this volley in news:
:

Didn't Lockheed figure out they needed to work titanium in an inert gas
atmosphere?

To prevent surface oxidation, sure. In thin sections, sure. But 5/32"
rod won't catch fire unless you heat a section to white heat.

Titanium is hot-formed in air all the time. It has to be cleaned
afterwards, that's all. (abrasively or in molten potassium hydroxide).

It can be welded with TIG in the open, too, so long as you keep a stream
of argon on both front and back sides _and_ from the torch. You have to
keep up the inert gas flow until the temp is somewhat below 800F.

LLoyd