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.)

The take off

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter lifts off for its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. It’s the first flight of any 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 since their arrival to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

flight checks

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, begins flight checks on the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Secure

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, secures his helmet from the cockpit of the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The walkaround

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, walks around the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The walkaround

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, inspects the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The taxi

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter taxis out for its first training sortie followed by an F-16 chase aircraft March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The taxi

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter taxis out for its first training sortie followed by an F-16 chase aircraft March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The helmet

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, removes his helmet after a successful test prior to stepping to the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter for its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. The helmet is tested with a computer before every sortie. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The helmet

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, undergoes a computerized helmet test prior to stepping to the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter for its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. The helmet is tested with a computer before each sortie. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The helmet

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, secures his helmet for testing prior to stepping to the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter for its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First flight

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter lifts off for its first training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. It’s the first flight of any 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 since their arrival to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)