Patiently waiting

An F-16 crew chief waits to marshal out his F-16 Fighting Falcon for another sortie from the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Nose to nose

An Airman waits to give the weapons clearance to an F-16 Fighting Falcon prior to a sortie Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Maintenance review

Staff Sgt. Mulford, of the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and his aircraft's pilot, review the maintenance record of an F-16 Fighting Falcon prior to a sortie on the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

F-16 prep

309th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airmen prepare an F-16 Fighting Falcon for a sortie on the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Chat

Senior Airman Dominique Wilson, a crew chief with the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, talks with the F-16 pilot over the radio during pre-flight checks on the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

All female team perform base retreat

An all female detail team presents the flag to Col. Antonio Douglas, the 96th Test Wing installation vice commander, during a retreat ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base Fla., Aug. 23. The flight and detail team were all female in honor of Women’s Equality Day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

All female team perform base retreat

Senior Airman Jessica Tanedo, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, carries the base flag to members of the detail to be folded during a retreat ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base Fla., Aug. 23. The flight and detail team were all female in honor of Women’s Equality Day. More than 20 women participated in the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

All female team perform base retreat

An all-female flight and flag detail perform a retreat ceremony in honor of Women’s Equality Day at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug 23. More than 20 women participated in the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

New AFMC chief visits Eglin

Chief Master Sgt. Michael Warner, the Air Force Materiel Command command chief, talks to Airmen attending Airman Leadership School at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 24. The new chief spoke with Airmen in both ALS and the First Term Airmen’s Center during this two-day immersion tour of the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Airman briefs Japanese 4-star

Staff Sgt. Skyler DeBoer, a crew chief with the 58th aircraft maintenance unit, briefs General Shigeru Iwasak, the air self-defense force, chief of staff, joint staff, Japan Self-Defense Forces on F-35 Lightning II maintenance and training during the general's visit to the 33rd Fighter Wing Aug. 20. Iwasaki's visit to Eglin was included in a larger tour of five Air Force and Department of the Navy installations as part of a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff counterpart visit. The Japan Ministry of Defense announced its selection of the F-35 Lightning II as the Japan Air Self Defense Force's next generation fighter aircraft December 2011 and signed a foreign military sales agreement in June. The F-35 is the world's only "fifth generation" multi-role fighter jet, combining state-of-the art stealth technology with highly advanced avionics and maneuverability. The fighter is being developed jointly with the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps along with support from the United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Roganov)

Pop the hood

Matthew Becker, Airman 1st Class Brandon Rudolph and Amber Turek, 96th Test Wing firefighters, open up the truck hood for inspection after extinguishing a simulated truck fire during a Nuclear Accident Response Exercise at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 22. Eglin agencies, including first responders, were evaluated on their reactions and responses to a vehicle explosion carrying nuclear material. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

N.A.R.E.

Matthew Becker, Amber Turek and Airman 1st Class Brandon Rudolph, 96th Test Wing firefighters, discuss vehicle inspection procedures after successfully putting out a simulated truck fire during a Nuclear Accident Response Exercise at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 22. Eglin agencies, including first responders, were evaluated on their reactions and responses to a vehicle explosion carrying nuclear material. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)