Fifth Gen formation

An F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and an F-22A Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., soar over the Emerald Coast Sept. 19. This was the first time the two fifth generation fighters have flown together for the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock)

Fifth Gen formation

An F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter from the 33rd Fighter Wing, and an F-22A Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., turn toward the Eglin Air Force Base runway Sept. 19. This was the first time the two fifth generation fighters have flown together for the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock)

Marine F-35 variant reaches 100th sortie milestone

Marine Corps Maj. Tye Bachmann, of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501, completed the 100th sortie of the F-35B variant of the Lightning II Aug. 31 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The flight was a lineup of six aircraft returning to the skies on the first day of flying after Hurricane Isaac. The 100th B variant sortie is another marker that the F-35 team is progressing forward in sortie generations and maintenance training as the aircraft systems continue to mature. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

53 Wing brings weapons evaluation to Hill AFB

An F-15 from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron drops a guided bomb unit during a Combat Hammer mission at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 85th TES is part of the 53rd Wing located at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Combat Hammer missions were part of an annual month-long weapons system evaluation program held at the base by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The group is responsible for air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons evaluation for the Air Force. The air-to-ground unit, known as Combat Hammer, is managed by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Eglin. The air-to-air unit, known as Combat Archer, is managed by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Tyndall AFB, Fla. (Courtesy photo)

53 Wing brings weapons evaluation to Hill AFB

An F-22 Raptor from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, flies through a mountainous area at Hill Air Force Base, Utah during a Combat Hammer mission. The Combat Hammer missions were part of an annual month-long weapons system evaluation program held at the base by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The group is responsible for air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons evaluation for the Air Force. The air-to-ground unit, known as Combat Hammer, is managed by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Eglin. The air-to-air unit, known as Combat Archer, is managed by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Tyndall AFB, Fla. (Courtesy photo)

Moving North

A 96th Test Wing F-16 lifts off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug 27. The 96th and the 53rd Wing evacuated their aircraft due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Isaac. The Wings’ F-16s flew to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the F-15s flew to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)