First F-35 Lightning II

A 33rd Fighter Wing maintainer moves by DoD's newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, before giving the order to taxi at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. This marks the first JSF aircraft to arrive to its new home, the 33rd FW. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First F-35 Lightning II

The Air Force’s first joint strike fighter pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th Fighter Squadron, looks at the monitor in his squadron’s newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, after piloting it 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

The Air Force’s first joint strike fighter pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th Fighter Squadron, taxis his squadron’s newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, 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

DoD's newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, taxis in to its new home, the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First F-35 Lightning II

DoD's newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, taxis across the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First F-35 Lightning II

The Air Force’s first joint strike fighter pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th Fighter Squadron, taxis his squadron’s newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, to its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Jet wash

An F-16 gets a “bath” from the newly installed fresh water rinse facility June 22 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The new 33rd Fighter Wing water system will be used to rinse off salt water deposits from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter after a flight over the Gulf of Mexico. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, rinsing the aircraft ensures the longevity of the metal components, costs less in maintenance and repair and uses less personnel time and effort to wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

F-4 flyover

Christina Olds, daughter of Air Force hero, Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, returns from her flight in a QF-4 from Det. 1 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron May 23. Ms. Olds, represented her father in his former aircraft during a flyover at the Air Force Academy’s organizational awards. The F-4 was a replica of the SCAT XXVII her father flew with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing Wolfpack in Vietnam. General Olds was the Exemplar for the class of 2011. Det. 1, 82nd ATRS is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Rollan Yocum.)

F-4 flyover

QF-4 aircraft from the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron perform a flyover at the Air Force Academy’s organizational awards parade May 23. One of the aircraft carried Christina Olds, representing her late father, Air Force hero, Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, who was named the Exemplar for the graduating class. The F-4 was a replica of the SCAT XXVII her father flew with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing Wolfpack in Vietnam. The 82nd ATRS is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Courtesy photo)

33rd FW Open House

Col. Andrew Toth addresses members of the 33rd Fighter Wing he commands at Eglin during the unit's open house event May 27. Air Force, Navy, Marine and contracted partners assigned to the DoD schoolhouse for F-35 maintainers and pilots had an opportunity give their first tour of the F-35 training campus to their loved ones. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chrissy Cuttita)

Looking ahead

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. – U.S. Air Force crew chiefs Master Sgt. Timothy Weaver and Tech. Sgt. Lucas Delk from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base work with Pedro Vera, Lockheed Martin Airframe Powerplant Group, inside the F-35C internal weapons bay at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Seven airmen from Eglin are embedded with the F-35 Integrated Test Facility team here to gain hands-on experience on the F-35B and F-35C variants in preparation for the first Joint Strike Fighter arrival at Eglin and start of F-35 training for the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

Hammer

A 4th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle releases a Guided Bomb Unit-24 over the Utah Test and Training Range during a Combat Hammer mission May 5 near Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Combat Hammer, an air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program, is maintained by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The WSEP program is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aerial system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. For many of the aircrew participating in WSEP, it is the first time employing live weapons. This provides a level of combat experience many units face during combat. (Courtesy photo)

Hammer

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, releases a Guided Bomb Unit-31 during a Combat Hammer mission May 11 at Hill. Combat Hammer, an air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program, is maintained by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The WSEP program is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aerial system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. For many of the aircrew participating in WSEP, it is the first time employing live weapons. This provides a level of combat experience many units face during combat. (Courtesy photo)

first production JSF

The first F-35A production aircraft that will be delivered to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., later this year takes off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base May 6 with Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti at the controls. The jet will go to Edwards AFB, Calif., to support developmental testing shortly after the Air Force takes delivery. As the first of its kind in the Department of Defense, the 33rd Fighter Wing is responsible for F-35 A/B/C (Joint Strike Fighter) pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force and, in the future, at least eight coalition partners. Initially, 59 aircraft and three flying squadrons, one for each service/aircraft variant, will be established at Eglin. (Courtesy photo)

Midair pit stop

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 20th Fighter Wing soar over the coastline of North West Florida during a Combat Hammer sortie mission March 17. More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Look out below

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 20th Fighter Wing releases a Guided Bomb Unit-31 over the Eglin Air Force Base range March 16. Approximately 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Soaring Falcon

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 20th Fighter Wing soars over the Eglin Air Force Base range March 14. More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Tailspotting

More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Cruising

Marine Capt. Mark Noble, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, taxis his F-16 back in to the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline after a sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. After completing his second familiarization flight at Eglin, he was cleared to fly a solo mission. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Static & Kinetic

An F-16 from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., waits for action while another Fighting Falcon performs a touch-and-go at Eglin's runway March 18. The F-16s were brought here to provide familiarization training to the 33rd Fighter Wing pilots prior to the arrival of the F-35 and to establish a “battle rhythm” for the 33rd flightline operations. Currently, Marines and Air Force pilots are completing daily sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

MX

Airman 1st Class Andrew Merriman, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, monitors an F-16 Fighting Falcon through flight checks prior to a sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16s were brought here to provide familiarization training to the 33rd Fighter Wing pilots prior to the arrival of the F-35 and to establish a “battle rhythm” for the 33rd flightline operations. Currently, Marines and Air Force pilots are completing daily sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Warlord

Marine Lt. Col. James Wellons, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 commander, seals his oxygen mask to his helmet before his F-16 sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Send them out

Airman 1st Class Andrew Merriman, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshals out an F-16 Fighting Falcon for a sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16s were brought here to provide familiarization training to the 33rd Fighter Wing pilots prior to the arrival of the F-35 and to establish a “battle rhythm” for the 33rd flightline operations. Currently, Marines and Air Force pilots are completing daily sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

"16" point inspection

Marine Lt. Col. James Wellons, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 commander, inspects his aircraft prior to his sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)