Wingmen

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Two of the Air Force Thunderbirds F-16s perform an inverted pass while three others come around for another pass during the practice show April 9 here. The weekend airshow drew more than 70,000 people each day. The T-birds headlined the show. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

Arrival

Thunderbird maintainers scurry around their F-16 while another taxis in at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 8 in preparation for the airshow April 10 and 11. The T-birds will perform both days with their ground show beginning at 3 p.m. The airshow begins at 9 a.m. on both days. See www.eglin.af.mil for more information. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Soaring

A Thunderbird F-16 soars over the skies of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 8 before arriving here for the airshow April 10 and 11. The T-birds will perform both days with their ground show beginning at 3 p.m. The airshow begins at 9 a.m. on both days. See www.eglin.af.mil for more information. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Green flight

An A-10C Thunderbolt II from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., flies along the coast of Florida March 25, 2010, during the first flight of an aircraft powered solely by a biomass-derived jet fuel blend. The A-10 was fueled with a 50/50 blend of Hydrotreated Renewable Jet and JP-8. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Joy Josephson)

Hover craft

The first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II short takeoff, vertical landing stealth fighter demonstrated the capability to hover March 17, during a test flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The flight was a significant test mission leading up to the aircraft’s first vertical landing. It confirmed predictions of the jet’s vertical thrust, stability and control in hovering flight. The flight began with a conventional takeoff before F-35 lead STOVL Pilot Graham Tomlinson initiated conversion to STOVL mode at 200 knots airspeed. He then slowed the aircraft to 60 knots and flew a decelerating approach to a zero airspeed hover at 150 feet above the runway. This marked the first free air hover in the F-35B Lightning II aircraft. Upon reaching zero airspeed, the pilot executed test points to confirm the controllability of the aircraft in the hover. After completing all hover test points, the pilot executed a STOVL landing at 70 knots airspeed. Later in the day, BF-1 performed the first F-35 short takeoff. Matching performance predictions, the F-35B accelerated down the runway in STOVL mode and lifted off at 100 knots using less than 1000 feet of runway. The successful tests are the latest steps in demonstrating the F-35B’s ability to conduct operations from small ships and unprepared fields, enabling expeditionary operations around the world.

Airshow static

L-5G "Intensive Care"

Airshow display

PT-17

Nice HUD

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Navy Capt. Mike Saunders, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, tries on the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter helmet after getting measured for the new flight suit. The new pilot equipment includes everything from underwear to cold weather outer gear to anti-G garments. The measurement brought Eglin one step closer to being able to commence training, said Marine Col. Arthur Tomassetti, 33rd Fighter Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

Like an eagle

A 4th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle soars over the Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., range during a Combat Hammer mission Feb. 3. Combat Hammer is an Air-to-Ground Weapons System Evaluation Program controlled by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The F-15s from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., participated in the week-long evaluation dropping GPS and laser-guided weapons. The WSEP was the first evaluation of Small Diameter Bombs at Eglin and first evaluation of Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions in a Combat Hammer. The WSEP program, run by the 53d Weapons Evaluation Group, 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/Maj. Scott Alford.)

SDB calling

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 4th Fighter Wing drops a Small Diameter Bomb during a Combat Hammer mission Feb. 3 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Combat Hammer is an Air-to-Ground Weapons System Evaluation Program controlled by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The F-15s from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., participated in the week-long evaluation dropping GPS and laser-guided weapons. The WSEP was the first evaluation of SDBs at Eglin and first evaluation of Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions in a Combat Hammer. The WSEP program, run by the 53d Weapons Evaluation Group, 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/Maj. Scott Alford.)

Midair gas station

A 4th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle connects with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 134th Air Reserve Wing for a refuel while 46th Test Wing F-16s stand by during a Combat Hammer mission Feb. 3. Combat Hammer is an Air-to-Ground Weapons System Evaluation Program controlled by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The F-15s from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., participated in the week-long evaluation dropping GPS and laser-guided weapons. The WSEP was the first evaluation of Small Diameter Bombs at Eglin and first evaluation of Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions in a Combat Hammer. The WSEP program, run by the 53d Weapons Evaluation Group, 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/Maj. Scott Alford.)

A hard rain

A 4th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle connects with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 134th Air Reserve Wing for a refuel while 46th Test Wing F-16s stand by during a Combat Hammer mission Feb. 3. Combat Hammer is an Air-to-Ground Weapons System Evaluation Program controlled by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The F-15s from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., participated in the week-long evaluation dropping GPS and laser-guided weapons. The WSEP was the first evaluation of Small Diameter Bombs at Eglin and first evaluation of Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions in a Combat Hammer. The WSEP program, run by the 53d Weapons Evaluation Group, 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/Maj. Scott Alford.)