JSF X 4

A four-ship of F-35A Lightning IIs returns to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., after a sortie Feb. 1. Pilots with the 33rd Fighter Wing began flying the formation for the first time here last week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Edward Schmitt)

JSFs

F-35 Lightning IIs (Courtesy photo)

POD testing

Maj. Olivia Elliott, of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, examines the logbook for her A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a test mission Jan. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Her mission was to wrap up flight testing of the new Net-T software upgrade on the LITENING II advanced targeting pod. The new upgrade allows the pod to provide ground forces beyond-line-of-sight command and control capabilities as long as the aircraft is within range. This is the first-ever test of this new capability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

POD testing

Maj. Olivia Elliott, of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, examines the LITENING II advanced targeting pod mounted on her A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a test mission Jan. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Her mission was to wrap up flight testing of the new Net-T software upgrade on the pod. The new upgrade allows the pod to provide ground forces beyond-line-of-sight command and control capabilities as long as the aircraft is within range. This is the first-ever test of this new capability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

QF-4s

QF-4s await their fate as target drones on the Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., flight line. The QF-4s are used a target drones by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Holloman and at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. They are remotely flown during the air-to-air weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Archer. Pilots gain valuable air combat training and experience targeting and firing missiles at the drone aircraft. The QF-4 will eventually be replaced by the QF-16, currently undergoing developmental testing at Tyndall. The 53rd WEG is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Courtesy photo/Gary Wetzel)

OFP testing

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 40th Flight Test Squadron and 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron fly over the Emerald Coast Dec. 6 on a design-try-out mission for a new operational flight program software upgrade. The newest OFP for Block 40 and 50 model F-16s will be tested developmentally and operationally at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 2014. This marks the first time ever an F-16 OFP has undergone developmental and operational testing in the same location. (Courtesy photo)

Greetings

Lt. Col. Brian O'Neill, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron director of operations and a "student" in the Air Force F-35A Lightning II Operational Utility Evaluation, salutes his crew chief before his postflight inspection Nov. 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. He became qualified to fly the aircraft during the last sortie of the service’s evaluation of the 33rd Fighter Wing's joint strike fighter training program, a necessary review for Air Education and Training Command to decide if the unit is “ready for training” next year. O’Neill will return to the 31st TES, a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing at Edwards AFB, Calif., where the Air Force will eventually begin operational testing on the new aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

Crouching Gorilla

Staff Sgt. Travis Goll, a 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, begins communicating with the pilot of an F-35A Lightning II Nov. 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The landing of the aircraft marked the last sortie to complete the 33rd Fighter Wing's flying and training portions of the Air Force Operational Utility Evaluation for the joint strike fighter. A Joint Operational Test Team will write their report of their evaluation here for Air Education and Training Command's review and approval, "Ready For Training," needed for the wing to begin formal F-35A training. (U.S. Air Force photo /Maj. Karen Roganov)

F-35 progression

Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Pressley, of the 33rd Maintenance Operations Squadron, is the first maintainer to complete an F-135 engine run. He will be an instructor for next few maintainers chosen to go through the F-35A engine run course. Having maintenance personnel conduct engine runs frees up pilots for training missions and allows the jets to get fixed faster. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bruce Ferris)

Fly by

An F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter banks left for another approach to the 33rd Fighter Wing runway at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 21. Both the A and B variants have flown approximately 280 sorties since arriving at Eglin and can be seen in the skies over the base almost daily. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Fifth Gen formation

An F-22A Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and an F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., soar over the Eglin range Sept. 19. This was the first time the two fifth generation fighters have flown together for the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock)

Fifth Gen formation

An F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and an F-22A Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., soar over the Emerald Coast Sept. 19. This was the first time the two fifth generation fighters have flown together for the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock)

Fifth Gen formation

An F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and an F-22A Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., soar over the Emerald Coast Sept. 19. This was the first time the two fifth generation fighters have flown together for the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock)

Marine F-35 variant reaches 100th sortie milestone

Marine Corps Maj. Tye Bachmann, of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501, completed the 100th sortie of the F-35B variant of the Lightning II Aug. 31 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The flight was a lineup of six aircraft returning to the skies on the first day of flying after Hurricane Isaac. The 100th B variant sortie is another marker that the F-35 team is progressing forward in sortie generations and maintenance training as the aircraft systems continue to mature. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

53 Wing brings weapons evaluation to Hill AFB

F-15s from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. fly together during a Combat Hammer mission at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The Combat Hammer missions were part of an annual month-long weapons system evaluation program held at the base by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The group is responsible for air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons evaluation for the Air Force. The air-to-ground unit, known as Combat Hammer, is managed by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Eglin. The air-to-air unit, known as Combat Archer, is managed by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Tyndall AFB, Fla. (Courtesy photo)

53 Wing brings weapons evaluation to Hill AFB

An F-22 Raptor from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, flies prepares for take-off for a Combat Hammer mission at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The Combat Hammer missions were part of an annual month-long weapons system evaluation program held at the base by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The group is responsible for air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons evaluation for the Air Force. The air-to-ground unit, known as Combat Hammer, is managed by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Eglin. The air-to-air unit, known as Combat Archer, is managed by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Tyndall AFB, Fla. (Courtesy photo)

Moving North

A 96th Test Wing F-15 lifts off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug 27. The 96th and the 53rd Wing evacuated their aircraft due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Isaac. The Wings’ F-16s flew to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the F-15s flew to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Moving North

A four-ship of F-15s taxis toward the runway at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 27. The 96th and the 53rd Wing evacuated their aircraft due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Isaac. The Wings’ F-16s flew to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the F-15s flew to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Stored Lightning

An Airman from the 33rd Maintenance Squadron directs an Air Force F-35A Lightning II into the 58th Fighter Squadron hangar at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 27. The 33rd Fighter Wing’s joint strike fighters were moved into hangars in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Isaac. The 58th hangar held nine A models, while the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 hangar stored the 10 B models. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Stored Lightning

An Airman from the 33rd Maintenance Squadron pulls an Air Force F-35A Lightning II off the flightline and into a hangar at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 27. The 33rd Fighter Wing’s joint strike fighters were moved into hangars in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Isaac. The 58th Fighter Squadron hangar held nine A models, while the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 hangar stored the 10 B models. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Stored Lightning

A 33rd Maintenance Squadron Airman backs in an Air Force F-35A Lightning II into the 58th Fighter Squadron hangar at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 27. The 33rd Fighter Wing’s joint strike fighters were moved into hangars in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Isaac. The 58th hangar held nine A models, while the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 hangar stored the 10 B models. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Stored Lightning

A 33rd Maintenance Squadron Airman backs in an Air Force F-35A Lightning II into the 58th Fighter Squadron hangar at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 27. The 33rd Fighter Wing’s joint strike fighters were moved into hangars in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Isaac. The 58th hangar held nine A models, while the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 hangar stored the 10 B models. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Lightning on a clear day

An F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter streaks across the sky over Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 22. The aircraft performed three approaches to the runway before returning to the 33rd Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

F-35 maintainer

Staff Sgt. Douglas Bays, a crew chief with the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, selects tools for post-flight maintenance tasks on an F-35A Lightning II at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 16. Bays is here training in anticipation for when the 57th will stand up its F-35 flying operations later next year. Bays is one of three maintainers from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., being trained on the F-35. Once their training is complete, they'll provide maintenance support to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron's F-35 fleet. The 422nd is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing, headquartered at Eglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Roganov)