First flight

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, puts on his helmet as Staff Sgt. Jeremy Houser, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, assists prior to the first F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter training sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March. 6. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Ready to Fly

The 33rd Operations Group flagship F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter sits ready to fly in the Air Force hangar at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Air Force issued a military flight release Feb. 28 allowing the F-35A to begin initial operations here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

New home

UH-1Ns arrive at their new home Feb. 27 at Duke Field, Fla. The 46th Test Wing Huey flight left Eglin Air Force Base and the 40th Flight Test Squadron and are now a part of the 413th Flight Test Squadron. The move is the first step to centralize all development, testing and evaluation of rotary wing aircraft in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

New home

UH-1Ns arrive at their new home Feb. 27 at Duke Field, Fla. The 46th Test Wing Huey flight left Eglin Air Force Base and the 40th Flight Test Squadron and are now a part of the 413th Flight Test Squadron. The move is the first step to centralize all development, testing and evaluation of rotary wing aircraft in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B roll out

Marine Corps color guard stand in front the F-35B Lightning II at its official roll out ceremony Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B roll out

U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. Gen. Joseph Dunford and Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Robert Stevens watch as Marine color guard retire the colors during the Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II roll out ceremony Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B roll out

Marine Corp color guard member stands by during the USMC F-35B Lightning II roll out ceremony Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B roll out

Marine Corps color guard members stand by during the USMC F-35B Lightning II roll out ceremony Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Dropping bombs

An A-10 Thunderbolt II, from the 104th Fighter Squadron, drops a guided bomb unit-12 during a Combat Hammer mission last month at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Combat Hammer is a weapons system evaluation managed by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The Combat Hammer (air to ground) and Archer (air to air) programs are missions of the 53rd Wing. (Courtesy photo)

Gas & go

An A-10 Thunderbolt II, from the 104th Fighter Squadron, tries to connect for an in-flight refuel during a Combat Hammer mission last month at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Combat Hammer is a weapons system evaluation managed by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The Combat Hammer (air to ground) and Archer (air to air) programs are missions of the 53rd Wing. (Courtesy photo)

Night Strike

The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Jan. 18 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The mission consisted of a series of straight-in approaches in twilight and darkness. The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35's cockpit lighting which Ward called, "the best he's ever seen." The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year. (Lockheed Martin photo) (Lockheed Martin photos by Tom Reynolds and Darin Russell)

Night Strike

The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Jan. 18 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The mission consisted of a series of straight-in approaches in twilight and darkness. The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35's cockpit lighting which Ward called, "the best he's ever seen." The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year. (Lockheed Martin photo) (Lockheed Martin photos by Tom Reynolds and Darin Russell)