Rolling out

Members of the 33rd Maintenance Squadron follow along with an F-15A as it is towed across the flightline on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to its new home in front of the Northwest Florida Regional Airport July 13. Since 1978, 33rd Fighter Wing F-15s have flown over Eglin and the local community. The last one will exit in September, just before the wing transitions to an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter training unit under Air Education and Training Command Oct. 1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks.)

Let's roll

Members of the 33rd Maintenance Squadron follow along with an F-15A as it is towed across the flightline on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla to its new home in front of the Northwest Florida Regional Airport July 13. Since 1978, 33rd Fighter Wing F-15s have flown over Eglin and the local community. The last one will exit in September, just before the wing transitions to an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter training unit under Air Education and Training Command Oct. 1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks.)

53rd vice flies B-1 back to Dyess

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Staff Sgt. Matthew Penrod, 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron, waits for the green light for the B-1B Lancer to takeoff on its flight back home to Dyess, AFB. The B-1 was piloted by a crew of four, including Col. Mick Guthals, 53rd Wing vice commander. The B-1 was here representing the 337th TES for the assumption-of-command ceremony for the 53rd Wing. It is a long-range, multi-role, heavy bomber capable of speeds of 900-plus miles per hour. Its wingspan fully extended is 137 feet and can fly intercontinental unrefueled. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

53rd vice flies B-1 back to Dyess

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A B-1B Lancer takes off for its flight back to Dyess, AFB, Texas. The B-1 was piloted by a crew of four, including Col. Mick Guthals, 53rd Wing vice commander. The B-1 was here representing the 337th TES for the assumption-of-command ceremony for the 53rd Wing. It is a long-range, multi-role, heavy bomber capable of speeds of 900-plus miles per hour. Its wingspan fully extended is 137 feet and can fly intercontinental unrefueled. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

Triple threat

F-16s from the 53rd Wing (left) and the 46th Test Wing (right) arm up before take-off as another F-16 ascends overhead June 25 at Eglin Air Force Base Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Advanced Tactical Laser

A specially modified 46th Test Wing NC-130H aircraft equipped with the Advanced Tactical Laser weapon system fired its laser while flying over White Sands Missile Range, N.M., successfully hitting a target board located on the ground. Equipped with a chemical laser, a beam control system, sensors and weapon-system consoles, the ATL is designed to damage, disable or destroy targets with little or no collateral damage. (Courtesy Photo)

Eagle bath

Maintainers thoroughly wash an F-15 free of any residual hydraulic fluid and grime during the process of getting the jet prepared to be a static display for the Northwest Florida regional airport. The aircraft is the second of two 33rd Fighter Wing aircraft to be demilitarized so that it may be put on permanent display. Recently another jet was shipped to the USS Alabama battleship museum. To make sure it is safe for public use, maintainers gut the aircraft's weapons, explosive devices, ejection seat, engine and anything that holds fluid or is potentially hazardous. After the wash, they will spend one week sealing all openings and another week painting the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Chrissy Cuttita.)

USS Alabama

An F-15 from the 33rd Fighter Wing is driven out Eglin's west gate on a transfer truck to be taken to the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, Ala. June 6. The jet was the first of two that was demilitarized by wing maintainers to become permanent display aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Andrew Gamache.)

308 ARSW

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Two Miniature Air Launched Decoys are mounted on an 40th Flight Test Squadron F-16 for developmental testing in June 2008. (Air Force photo)

Dropping the 'Hammer'

An F-16 from the 55th Fighter Squadron from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. fires an AGM-65 at a ground target during a Combat Hammer mission during a two-week large-scale evaluation. Combat Hammer is also known as a Weapons System Evaluation Program for air-to-ground weapons. Almost every fighter in the Air Force inventory participated in the evaluation held at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, which also included bombers and unmanned aircraft systems. The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron executes the 'Hammer' missions by evaluating the entire weapons process from loading to flight to the target. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Amber House.)

Dropping the 'Hammer'

A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. refuels an F-22A Raptor from the 49th Fighter Wing from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., in midair during a Combat Hammer mission during a two-week large-scale evaluation. Combat Hammer is also known as a Weapons System Evaluation Program for air-to-ground weapons. Almost every fighter in the Air Force inventory participated in the evaluation held at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, which also included bombers and unmanned aircraft systems. The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron executes the 'Hammer' missions by evaluating the entire weapons process from loading to flight to the target. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Christopher Johnson.)

Dropping the 'Hammer'

An F-16 from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron releases a GBU-31during a Combat Hammer mission during a two-week large-scale evaluation at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Combat Hammer is also known as a Weapons System Evaluation Program for air-to-ground weapons. Almost every fighter in the Air Force inventory participated in the evaluation, which also included bombers and unmanned aircraft systems. The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron executes the 'Hammer' missions by evaluating the entire weapons process from loading to flight to the target. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. John Krellner.)

Onlookers witness end of an era

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A crowd gazes at a F-15C Eagle pilot from the West Coast Demonstration Team performing aerial maneuvers to display the F-15C Eagle capabilities as a single-role fighter designed for air-to-air missions to hundreds of base and community spectators during their final demonstration here May 1. The Air Combat Command demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the last two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Anthony Jennings)

Puttin' on a final show

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Sam "Nuke" Joplin, F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team pilot, performs aerial maneuvers to display the F-15C Eagle capabilities as a single-role fighter designed for air-to-air missions to hundreds of base and community spectators during their final demonstration here May 1. The Air Combat Command demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the last two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

End of an era

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. ? The F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team and a pair of P-51 Mustangs fly in formation as part of the Heritage Flight for the 33rd Fighter Wing during their final demonstration here May 1. The P-51 Mustang was assigned to the fighter wing from 1948 through 1950. The Air Combat Command F-15 demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the final two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

End of an era

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. ? The F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team and a pair of P-51 Mustangs fly in formation as part of the Heritage Flight for the 33rd Fighter Wing during their final demonstration here May 1. The P-51 Mustang was assigned to the fighter wing from 1948 through 1950. The Air Combat Command F-15 demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the final two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Puttin' on a final show

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Sam "Nuke" Joplin, F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team pilot, performs aerial maneuvers to display the F-15C Eagle capabilities as a single-role fighter designed for air-to-air missions to hundreds of base and community spectators during their final demonstration here May 1. The Air Combat Command demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the last two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Puttin' on a final show

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Sam "Nuke" Joplin, F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team pilot, performs aerial maneuvers to display the F-15C Eagle capabilities as a single-role fighter designed for air-to-air missions to hundreds of base and community spectators during their final demonstration here May 1. The Air Combat Command demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the last two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force illustration by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Puttin' on a final show

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Sam "Nuke" Joplin, F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team pilot, performs aerial maneuvers to display the F-15C Eagle capabilities as a single-role fighter designed for air-to-air missions to hundreds of base and community spectators during their final demonstration here May 1. The Air Combat Command demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the last two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Puttin' on a show

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- William Diaz, P-51 Demonstration Team, prepares the World War II fighter to fly with the F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team as part of the Heritage Flight for the 33rd Fighter Wing here May 1. The P-51 Mustang was assigned to the fighter wing from 1948 through 1950. The Air Combat Command F-15 demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the final two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

JSF

Joint Strike Fighter test pilot David Nelson gives Airman 1st Class Joseph Saucier, 96th Security Forces Squadron, a tour around the F-35, April 23 while it was parked in front of McKinley Climatic Lab on base. The aircraft’s first arrival at the base was to provide a showcase to Team Eglin and the local community. Media and local community leaders saw and heard the aircraft in action during the sortie as well as got an up close view of it. They were also shown a cockpit demo to see what it feels like to sit inside an F-35 and learn the pilot’s point of view. Nine countries and three U.S. services have orders for the new aircraft and they all will pass through Eglin to learn to fly it. The 33rd Fighter Wing will transition from an operational fighter unit into a joint training unit in October to educate and train the pilots. The first of new fighters are scheduled to arrive March 2010. U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.

JSF

The Joint Strike Fighter test aircraft AA-1 performs a touch-and-go over the Eglin Air Force Base runway April 23 during its sortie. The aircraft’s first arrival at the base was to provide a showcase to Team Eglin and the local community. Media and local community leaders saw and heard the aircraft in action during the sortie as well as got an up close view of it. They were also shown a cockpit demo to see what it feels like to sit inside an F-35 and learn the pilot’s point of view. Nine countries and three U.S. services have orders for the new aircraft and they all will pass through Eglin to learn to fly it. The 33rd Fighter Wing will transition from an operational fighter unit into a joint training unit in October to educate and train the pilots. The first of new fighters are scheduled to arrive March 2010. U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.

JSF touchdown

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Department of Defense's newest fighter, the F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, touched down at Eglin April 22. This is the first time the aircraft visited the base. The visit was to showcase the aircraft to the local community and Eglin personnel. Eglin is the future home of the JSF training facility. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman AnthonyJennings)

JSF touchdown

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Department of Defense's newest fighter, the F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, touched down at Eglin April 22. This was the first time the aircraft visited Eglin. The visit was to showcase the aircraft to the local community and Eglin personnel. Eglin will be the future home of the JSF traininf facility. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)