F-35 pilot training curriculum fills up

For the first time in Eglin's air space, F-35A Lightning II pilots navigate their aircraft toward an Air Force Reserve KC-135 Stratotanker from the 336th Air Refueling Squadron, March AFB, Calif. The initial cadre of Air Force F-35 instructor pilots at the 33rd Fighter Wing trained with others to qualify in aerial refueling for the joint strike fighter. Their success will add another capability for student pilot training to the F-35 Integrated Training Center here. The 33rd FW is responsible for F-35 A/B/C Lightning II pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force and, in the future, at least eight coalition partners. Initially, 59 aircraft and three flying squadrons, one for each service/aircraft variant, will be established at Eglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. John Nimmo)

3 T-6

T-6 aircraft fly in formation celebrating the Parade of Heroes and the Doolittle Raiders April 20. The T-6s were part of a parade of vintage World War II era aircraft, including the B-25, which performed flyovers during the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

UK Navy pilot flies 1st sortie

A maintainer places chocks onto the rear wheel of a United Kingdom F-35B Lightning II after a sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 10. UK pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Ian Tidball, became the first Royal Navy student-pilot to fly the sortie. He touched down after a successful training sortie. Tidball has flight experience in the British Sea Harrier and the F-18 Super Hornet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

Before & after

A cart full of more than 280 tools and equipment was previously required to complete brake and tire maintenance on a 33rd Fighter Wing F-35A. The new blue box created by the Airmen of the 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit's Support Section reduces the amount of tools required by 81 percent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

A-10s at WSEP

An A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot from the 442nd Fighter Wing readies his aircraft before a sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20. The 442nd A-10s traveled from Whiteman AFB for the week-long, air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program called Combat Hammer. Combat Hammer, run by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The air-to-air and air-to-ground WSEP evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aircraft system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

A-10s at WSEP

Tech. Sgt. Aaron Mashburn, a crew chief with the 442nd Fighter Wing, performs a preflight inspection of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20. The 442nd A-10s traveled from Whiteman AFB for the week-long, air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program called Combat Hammer. Combat Hammer, run by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The air-to-air and air-to-ground WSEP evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aircraft system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)