Dropping bombs

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., drops a Guided Bomb Unit 31 during a Combat Hammer mission over the Eglin Air Force Base Range during the week of March 16. Combat Hammer is also known as a Weapons System Evaluation Program for air-to-ground weapons. The 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron executes the 'Hammer' missions by evaluating the entire weapons process from loading to flight to the target. Flying squadrons 'deploy' to Eglin for the week-long evaluation. Courtesy photo.

HERITAGE FLIGHT

Capt. Sam Joplin flies the West Coast Demonstration team’s F-15 Eagle in a three-ship heritage formation over ‘show center’ with a TF-51 Mustang and an F-86 Sabre. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bryan Jones)

Test pilots

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - An F-16 from the 40th Flight Test Squadron is shown flying a test mission. The 40th FLTS pilots fly developmental test missions in F-15s, F-16s, A-10Cs and UH-1 helicopters. (U.S. Air Force photo/40th Flight Test Squadron)

Test pilots

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - An F-15 from Eglin's 40th Flight Test Squadron flies a test mission. The 40th FLTS pilots fly developmental test missions in F-15s, F-16s, A-10Cs and UH-1 helicopters. (U.S. Air Force photo/40th Flight Test Squadron)

Base extends hand to tankers

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman Zachery Belcher, 380th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator brings out a fuel hose for refueling of a KC-135 Stratotanker as crew members perform pre-flight inspections, Jan 27. Airman Belcher was one piece of the bases effort to recover and turn several KC-135's after they were diverted from their original destination. Airman Belcher is deployed from Eglin AFB, Fla. and hails from Linclon, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo by Captain Jennifer Pearson) (Released)

Base extends hand to tankers

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman Zachery Belcher, 380th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator connects a grounding cable as crew members perform pre-flight inspections on a KC-135 Statotanker, Jan 27. Airman Belcher was one piece of the bases effort to recover and turn several KC-135's after they were diverted from their original destination. Airman Belcher is deployed from Eglin AFB, Fla. and hails from Linclon, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian J. Ellis) (Released)

F-35 Lightning II

An F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter takes off from a Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas, for an initial flight as part of system development testing. (Courtesy photo)

Airpower summary: Reapers target enemy forces

An MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft prepares to land after a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The Reaper has the ability to carry both precision-guided bombs and air-to-ground missiles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson)

A-10C LJDAM drop

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Maj. Matthew Domsalla, 40th FLTS A-10C pilot, flies the Warthog back to Eglin after successfully completing a historic mission. Major Domsalla tested the first ever integration and release of a GBU-54, or Laser Joint Direct Attack Muntion off the A-10C platform. (US Air Force photo/ Master Sgt. Joy Josephson)

A-10C LJDAM drop

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Maj. Matthew Domsalla, 40th FLTS A-10C pilot, makes the first ever drop of the GBU-54, or Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition, off the Warthog. This test proved a successful integration of the munition with the A-10, allowing for an outstanding precision targeting capability that will help the Air Force continue to provide precision engagement. (US Air Force photo/ Master Sgt. Joy Josephson)

Adopt A Plane

Master Sgt. Craig Sargent, 46th Maintenance Squadron, cuts a peice of metal down to size to replace a broken ladder on a static display at the Air Force Air Armament Museum as part of the Adopt-a-Plane initiaive. The initiative is a volunteer project aimed restoring and preserving Air Force history displayed at the museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary)

Adopt A Plane

(Left to right) Staff Sgts. Emmanuel Smith and Benjamin Dartez, 46th Maintenance Squadron, scrub dirt, grim and rust off of a static MACE display at the Air Force Air Armament Museum as part of the Adopt-a-Plane initiative. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary)