Incoming

A 46th Test Wing maintainer watches as 53rd Wing F-15s taxi toward him at 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.)

Hold up

A 46th Test Wing maintainer prepares a 53rd Wing F-16 for 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.)

Burner

A 46th Test Wing F-16 prepares for 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.)

Mission accomplished

A group of 46th Test Wing maintainers walks away after arming 53rd Wing aircraft for 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.)

Air power

An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon provides timely and accurate air-to-ground fire for maneuver forces during exercise Atlantic Strike. (Photo/ Casey Bain)

Three wide

F-15E Strike Eagles from the 4th Fighter Wing taxi in at Eglin Air Force Base Fla., Sept. 2 as part of a hurricane evacuation from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. Approximately 30 Strike Eagles, three KC-135 Stratotankers and 300 personnel arrived to beddown the aircraft as Hurricane Earl headed for the N.C. coast. The 33rd Fighter Wing, a former F-15 unit now the training wing for the F-35 Lightning II, provided flightline space for the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Touch down

A 4th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle touches down at Eglin Air Force Base Fla., Sept. 2 as part of a hurricane evacuation from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. Approximately 30 Strike Eagles, three KC-135 Stratotankers and 300 personnel arrived to beddown the aircraft as Hurricane Earl headed for the N.C. coast. The 33rd Fighter Wing, a former F-15 unit now the training wing for the F-35 Lightning II, provided flightline space for the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Beddown

A 4th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle passes by others that arrived to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., as part of a hurricane evacuation from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., Sept. 2. Approximately 30 Strike Eagles, three KC-135 Stratotankers and 300 personnel arrived to beddown the aircraft as Hurricane Earl headed for the N.C. coast. The 33rd Fighter Wing, a former F-15 unit now the training wing for the F-35 Lightning II, provided flightline space for the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Free parking

A 916th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker pulls into place beside of another tanker at Eglin Air Force Base Fla., Sept. 1 Their arrival was as part of a hurricane evacuation from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. Approximately 30 F-15E Strike Eagles, three KC-135s and 300 personnel arrived to beddown the aircraft as Hurricane Earl headed for the N.C. coast. The 33rd Fighter Wing, a former F-15 unit now the training wing for the F-35 Lightning II, provided flightline space for the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Up in smoke

An F-16 Fighting Falcon explodes, sending debris and shrapnel into the air Aug. 19 on the Eglin Air Force Base range. The explosion was a static test of the flight termination system to be used in the QF-16. The purpose was to demonstrate that the FTS design will be sufficient to immediately terminate the flight of a QF-16, as well as determine a range safety debris footprint. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Aftermath

Beth Bartlett, test engineer for the flight termination system test, surveys the damage after the explosion of an F-16 Fighting Falcon Aug. 19 at the Eglin Air Force Base range. The explosion was a test of the FTS to be used in the QF-16. The purpose was to demonstrate that the FTS design will be sufficient to immediately terminate the flight of a QF-16, as well as to determine a range safety debris footprint. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Storm coming

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 40th Flight Test Squadron awaits its fiery fate Aug. 19 on the Eglin Air Force Base range. The aircraft was exploded as part of a test of the flight termination system to be used in the QF-16. The purpose was to demonstrate that the FTS design will be sufficient to immediately terminate the flight of a QF-16, as well as determine a range safety debris footprint. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)