Incoming

An F-15C Eagle from the 44th Fighter Squadron fires an AIM-120 missile during a Combat Archer mission at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., May 5. Combat Archer, an air-to-air weapons system evaluation program maintained by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron. The WSEP program is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aerial system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. For many of the aircrew participating in WSEP, it is the first time employing live weapons. This provides a level of combat experience many units face during combat. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. John Hoffmann)

Locked & loaded

An F-15C Eagle from the 44th Fighter Squadron flies loaded up AIM-120 missiles during a Combat Archer mission at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., May 5. Combat Archer, an air-to-air weapons system evaluation program maintained by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron. The WSEP program is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aerial system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. For many of the aircrew participating in WSEP, it is the first time employing live weapons. This provides a level of combat experience many units face during combat. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. John Hoffmann)

Look out below

A B-1B Lancer releases a Guided Bomb Unit-32 during a Combat Hammer Sortie on the Eglin Air Force Base range March 16. The bomber from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas, participated in the week-long air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer. The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Cruising the coastline

A B-1B Lancer soars over the Gulf Coast during a Combat Hammer Sortie on the Eglin Air Force Base range March 16. The bomber from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas, flew in and dropped a Guided Bomb Unit-32 during the week-long air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer. The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Loaded

An F-16 Fighting Falcon loaded with a Guided Bomb Unit-12 from the 20th Fighter Wing waits to taxi out for a sortie March 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Flight checks

Senior Airman Keith Tunstall and Staff Sgt. Bryan Waldo, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, execute flight checks on their F-16 Fighting Falcon March 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Let's roll

Marine Lt. Col. James Wellons, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 commander, begins to roll as Airman 1st Class Andrew Merriman, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, leads him out of the hangar at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Parking permit

Airman 1st Class William McCoy, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshals his F-16 into the hangar after a sortie March 18 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-16s were brought here to provide familiarization training to the 33rd Fighter Wing pilots prior to the arrival of the F-35 and to establish a “battle rhythm” for the 33rd flightline operations. Currently, Marines and Air Force pilots are completing daily sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

"16" point inspection

Marine Lt. Col. James Wellons, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 commander, inspects his aircraft prior to his sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Got your back

Airman 1st Class William McCoy, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, watches as aircraft checks are performed prior to his F-16’s sortie March 18 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-16s were brought here to provide familiarization training to the 33rd Fighter Wing pilots prior to the arrival of the F-35 and to establish a “battle rhythm” for the 33rd flightline operations. Currently, Marines and Air Force pilots are completing daily sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Logging in

Marine Lt. Col. James Wellons, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 commander, reviews the F-16 maintenance log book before his F-16 sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

De-brief

Marine Capt. Mark Noble, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, talks about his flight with an F-16 trainer at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. After completing his second familiarization flight here, he was cleared to fly solo missions. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)