1st F-35A formation flight

Two F-35A Lightning IIs from the 33rd Fighter Wing soar over Eglin Air Force Base's range during the unit’s first joint strike fighter formation flight April 10. Lt. Col. Eric Smith, 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, flew the lead aircraft while Marine Maj Joseph Bachmann, Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 aircraft maintenance officer, flew wingman. The pilots, both first in their service qualified to fly the 5th generation aircraft, were validating pilot syllabus objectives in preparation for future training. The 33rd FW is responsible for F-35 A/B/C pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and in the future, at least eight coalition partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Ryan Seymour)

1st operational refuel

An F-35A Lightning II from the 33rd Fighter Wing soars alongside a KC-135R Stratotanker and an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the unit’s first joint strike fighter air-to-air refuel mission April 11. Lt. Col. Eric Smith, 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations and first Air Force qualified F-35 pilot, flew the mission. The 33rd FW is responsible for F-35 A/B/C pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and in the future, at least eight coalition partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Casey Smith)

Spot of paint

Airman 1st Class Anthony Colon-Matos, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, paints the wing of the B-25 aircraft display at the Air Force Armament Museum, April 5. Colon-Matos and other members of LRS’s petroleum, oil and lubricants flight restored the B-25 as part of Eglin’s Adopt-a-Plane program. LRS adopted the B-25 six years ago. This is the second time the squadron’s Airmen have painted it. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Spot of paint

Tech. Sgt. Jessie Terry, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, paints the tail section of the B-25 aircraft display at the Air Force Armament Museum, April 5. Terry and other members of LRS’s petroleum, oil and lubricants flight restored the B-25 as part of Eglin’s Adopt-a-Plane program. LRS adopted the B-25 six years ago. This is the second time the squadron’s Airmen have painted it. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Spot of paint

Airman 1st Class Anthony Colon-Matos, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, removes the painters tape off of the B-25 aircraft display at the Air Force Armament Museum, April 5. Colon-Matos and other members of LRS’s petroleum, oil and lubricants flight restored the B-25 as part of Eglin’s Adopt-a-Plane program. LRS adopted the B-25 six years ago. This is the second time the squadron’s Airmen have painted it. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Lancers

A B-1B Lancer from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron connects with the KC-135 Stratotanker for inflight refueling during a mission over the Gulf of Mexico near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The 337th is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing, headquartered at Eglin. The 337th are responsible for operational testing of all B-1 defensive/offensive systems and weapons upgrades. (Courtesy photo/Jake Melampy)

Lancers

B-1B Lancers from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron soar over the Gulf of Mexico during a test mission near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The 337th is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing, headquartered at Eglin. The 337th is responsible for operational testing of all B-1 defensive/offensive systems and weapons upgrades. (Courtesy photo/Jake Melampy)

Lancers

B-1B Lancers from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron soar over the Gulf of Mexico during a test mission near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The 337th is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing, headquartered at Eglin. The 337th is responsible for operational testing of all B-1 defensive/offensive systems and weapons upgrades. (Courtesy photo/Jake Melampy)

Fill'er up

James Murr, a seven-year member of the 96th Petroleum Oil and Lubricants flight, refuels the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter’s 18,000 pound internal fuel tanks after its sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20. POL is responsible for delivering fuel to all aircraft on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Fill'er up

James Murr, a seven-year member of the 96th Petroleum Oil and Lubricants flight, refuels the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter’s 18,000 pound internal fuel tanks after its sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20. POL is responsible for delivering fuel to all aircraft on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

F-35B's first steps

Maj. Aric Liberman, the operations officer for the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501, and Lockheed Martin personnel train during the first engine run of the F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 14. The run determines the joint strike fighter's health and is the first step in moving toward F-35B flights here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

Osprey perched

A CV-22 Osprey, flown by the 8th Special Operations Squadron, hangs in the anechoic chamber at the Joint Preflight Integration of Munitions and Electronic Systems hangar March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Osprey is currently in the chamber for approximately four weeks to test upgraded electronic warfare systems. The J-PRIMES anechoic chamber is a room designed to stop internal reflections of electromagnetic waves, as well as insulate from exterior sources of electromagnetic noise. J-PRIMES provides this environment to facilitate testing air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions and electronics systems on full-scale aircraft and land vehicles prior to open air testing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)