Onlookers witness end of an era

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A crowd gazes at a F-15C Eagle pilot from the West Coast Demonstration Team performing aerial maneuvers to display the F-15C Eagle capabilities as a single-role fighter designed for air-to-air missions to hundreds of base and community spectators during their final demonstration here May 1. The Air Combat Command demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the last two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Anthony Jennings)

Puttin' on a final show

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Sam "Nuke" Joplin, F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team pilot, performs aerial maneuvers to display the F-15C Eagle capabilities as a single-role fighter designed for air-to-air missions to hundreds of base and community spectators during their final demonstration here May 1. The Air Combat Command demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the last two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

End of an era

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. ? The F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team and a pair of P-51 Mustangs fly in formation as part of the Heritage Flight for the 33rd Fighter Wing during their final demonstration here May 1. The P-51 Mustang was assigned to the fighter wing from 1948 through 1950. The Air Combat Command F-15 demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the final two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

End of an era

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. ? The F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team and a pair of P-51 Mustangs fly in formation as part of the Heritage Flight for the 33rd Fighter Wing during their final demonstration here May 1. The P-51 Mustang was assigned to the fighter wing from 1948 through 1950. The Air Combat Command F-15 demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the final two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Puttin' on a final show

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Sam "Nuke" Joplin, F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team pilot, performs aerial maneuvers to display the F-15C Eagle capabilities as a single-role fighter designed for air-to-air missions to hundreds of base and community spectators during their final demonstration here May 1. The Air Combat Command demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the last two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Puttin' on a final show

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Sam "Nuke" Joplin, F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team pilot, performs aerial maneuvers to display the F-15C Eagle capabilities as a single-role fighter designed for air-to-air missions to hundreds of base and community spectators during their final demonstration here May 1. The Air Combat Command demo team has performed more than 150 times to spectators around the globe over the last two years. This is the final demonstration for the F-15C Eagle completing a 26-year career, which began in 1983. (U.S. Air Force illustration by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)