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.)

First F-35 Lightning II

Maintainers from the 33rd Fighter Wing hold DoD’s newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, on the taxiway after its arrival 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

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

A 33rd Fighter Wing maintainer watches as the first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter taxis in 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.)