JSF rollout

Gen. Edward Rice, the Air Education and Training Command commander, speaks to the crowd of 33rd Fighter Wing members and state and local leaders during the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter rollout ceremony Aug. 26 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

JSF rollout

Col. Andrew Toth, the 33rd Fighter Wing commander, speaks to the crowd of 33rd Fighter Wing members and state and local leaders during the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter rollout ceremony Aug. 26 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Captured Falcon

An F-16 Fighting Falcon tests the BAK-12 cable system on Eglin's recently renovated runway Aug. 22. The aircraft completed a high-speed taxi engagement and pull at the targeted speed of 115 knots to certify the system was working properly. (Courtesy photo)

fire when ready

A F-16 Fighting Falcon fires an air-to-air missile during a weapons system evaluation program mission at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The WSEP missions of Combat Hammer and Combat Archer are part of an annual month-long event held at the base by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The group is responsible for air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons evaluation. (Courtesy photo)

F-4 immersion

Col. David Hicks, the 53rd Wing commander, straps in to fly a QF-4 as part of the new commander's immersion of the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 3. The 53rd Wing have the only F-4s left in the Air Force inventory. They are used as full-scale targets by the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron during the Weapons System Evaluation Program known as Combat Archer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. John Hoffmann)

Tailspotting

An aircraft performs a flyover at the Red, White and Blue Celebration at the Destin HarborWalk July 28. The third annual summer-long festivities will pay tribute to local heroes and military members from the surrounding military communities of Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and Duke Field. Members being recognized are presented with a key to the city of Destin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chrissy Cuttita)

Tanker's away

An Air Force Reserve KC-135 Stratotanker lifts off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., for a refueling mission July 22. This is just one of the many transient aircraft that visit Eglin daily. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Bring it in

Airman 1st Class Josh Mouser, a 46th Maintenance Group crew chief, gives the stop command to an arriving F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 22. The 46th Maintenance Group maintains A-10s, F-16s, F-15s, and other aircraft for both the 46th TW and 53rd Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

King crossing

A 53rd Wing F-16 Fighting Falcon soars past Eglin’s famous King Hangar July 22. The wing is responsible for operational testing and evaluation of new equipment and systems proposed for use by these forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Ready to roll

53rd Wing pilots prepare for a sortie in F-16 Fighting Falcons at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 22. The wing is responsible for operational testing and evaluation of new equipment and systems proposed for use by these forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

JSF pilot

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, operations director for the 58th Fighter Squadron, is the first Air Force pilot certified to fly the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. He delivered the first aircraft to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chrissy Cuttita)

JSF II

33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainers bring out chocks to secure the newly arrived second F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 20. The pilot, Maj. Joseph Bachmann, of the 33rd Operations Group, is the first Marine pilot to be JSF certified. Aircraft AF-8 is the flagship for the 58th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

JSF II

Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann, of the 33rd Operations Group, executes aircraft shutdown procedures on the second F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter to arrive at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 20. Bachmann is the first Marine pilot to be JSF certified. Aircraft AF-8 is the flagship for the 58th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

JSF II

Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann, of the 33rd Operations Group, watches his crew chief during aircraft shutdown procedures of the second F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter to arrive at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 20. Bachmann is the first Marine pilot to be JSF certified. Aircraft AF-8 is the flagship for the 58th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

JSF II

Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann, of the 33rd Operations Group, executes aircraft shutdown procedures of the second F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter to arrive at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 20. Bachmann is the first Marine pilot to be JSF certified. Aircraft AF-8 is the flagship for the 58th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

JSF II

Staff Sgt. Matthew Lohman, of the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, communicates with the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter during shutdown procedures at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 20. The pilot, Maj. Joseph Bachmann, of the 33rd Operations Group, is the first Marine pilot to be JSF certified and the aircraft is the second JSF to arrive to the 33rd Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First F-35 Lightning II arrives

DOD’s first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter soars past the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline with two F-16 Fighting Falcon chase aircraft before landing at its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. Its pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th Fighter Squadron, is the first Air Force qualified JSF pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

First F-35 Lightning II arrives

DOD’s first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter soars over Destin, Fla., with an F-16 Fighting Falcon before landing at its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, July 14. Its pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th Fighter Squadron, is the first Air Force qualified JSF pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

First F-35 Lightning II arrives

DOD’s first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter soars over the Northwest Florida airspace before landing at its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, July 14. Its pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th Fighter Squadron, is the first Air Force qualified JSF pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

First F-35 Lightning II arrives

Tech. Sgt. Brian West, of the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshals in DOD's newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter to a stop at its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. West is the crew chief for the first F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First F-35 Lightning II arrives

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th Fighter Squadron, talks with his squadron and wing commanders after piloting the first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter to its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First F-35 Lightning II arrives

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th Fighter Squadron, passes his helmet to a maintainer after bringing the first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter to its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First F-35 Lightning II

Members of the 33rd Fighter Wing came out to see DoD’s newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, when it arrived to its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First F-35 Lightning II

F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter crew chief, Tech. Sgt. Brian West, watches his aircraft approach for the first time at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. Aircraft 0747 is DoD’s newest aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)