Gameplan

Steve Coleman, crew chief, reviews the F-15E logbook with Maj. Raja Chari, pilot, and Capt Chris Dupin, 40th Flight Test Squadron weapons system officer, prior to their sortie from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 18. The Strike Eagle flew the first ever sortie with the new APG-82 radar. The new radar replaces the 24-year-old APG-70 radar system. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Active runway

An F-15E and two F-16s from the 46th Test Wing prepare to taxi out as a 919th Special Operations Wing C-130E lifts off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 18. The Strike Eagle flew the first ever sortie with the new APG-82 radar. The new radar replaces the 24-year-old APG-70 radar system. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Active flightline

The long-dormant flightline of the 33rd Fighter Wing sprang to life Jan. 13 as four F-16s from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., arrived to the base. The aircraft were brought to the wing to help prepare the pilots and maintainers for the imminent arrival of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Beddown

An F-16 crew chief from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., prepares the aircraft for beddown at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 13. Four F-16s from Luke were brought to the wing to help prepare the pilots and maintainers for the imminent arrival of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

33rd in Persian Gulf circa 1990

In this historic photo, a four-ship of F-15 Eagles, deployed from Eglin, fly over the Persian Gulf. Throughout the 90s, then-named 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing flew combat air patrol and high value airborne asset protection missions as part of Operations DESERT STORM and SOUTHERN WATCH. Known for the most combat kills, the wing "Nomads" ended the operational missions with 16 aerial victories. Today, the wing continues its air dominance by training pilots and maintainers for the military's future generation as DoD's Integrated Training Center for the F-35. (Courtesy photo)

Training talk

Marine Col. Art Tomessetti, 33rd Fighter Wing vice commander, explains how his team is preparing to train future pilots and maintainer of the F-35 to Okaloosa County commissioners during their tour here Dec. 14. (Courtesy photo by Kathy Newby)

Decoration

Robert Owens, 796th Civil Engineer Squadron, removes the straps from the new F-35 Lightning II static display in front of the 53rd Wing building Nov. 3. The static display compliments the F-22 display on the left side of the entrance. The 53rd Wing will be responsible for the operational testing of the F-35 aircraft. (Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.)

Low flying

Robert Owens, 796th Civil Engineer Squadron, brings the new F-35 Lightning II static display into place in front of the 53rd Wing building Nov. 3. The static display compliments the F-22 display on the left side of the entrance. The 53rd Wing will be responsible for the operational testing of the F-35 aircraft. (Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.)

Downloading data to DCGS

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data, such as images provided by the Predator remotely piloted vehicle, are becoming easier to share with the newest version of the Distributed Common Ground System Integration Backbone, version 2.0, which was released Oct. 15. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt)

46th TW biofuel test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Staff Sgt. Matthew Bardell, Staff Sgt. Corey Briggs and Senior Airman Jacob Prine connect a fueling hose to a F-15 prior to a flight test of new environmentally-friendly fuel Oct.22. Aircrews from the 46th Test Wing and Air Force engineers evaluated flight parameters using a blend of standard JP-8 fuel and hydro-treated, renewable jet biofuel. This was the second test conducted at Eglin; an A-10 fuel test proved sucessful results in March. The Air Force is working toward an ambitious goal of changing half of the continental U.S. jet fuel requirement to alternative fuels by 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Andrew Caulk)

Bomb's away

A Canadian Air Force CF-18 releases a Guided Bomb Unit-12 over the Eglin Air Force Base range during an air-to-ground Weapons System Evaluation mission. The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron conducts the WSEP program at Eglin. 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. Courtesy photo.

Arm up

The 46th Test Wing maintainers prepare to arm up a 53rd Wing F-16 prior to take off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. More than 1,000 personnel of the 46th Maintenance Group are responsible for maintenance procedures for all of the 46th and 53rd aircraft located at Eglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)