Golden Knights jump

OVER EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Three members of the U.S. Army Parachute Team "Golden Knights" aerial demonstration team watch the drop zone below over Eglin to determine the wind directions just before their practice show jump April 14. The practice show was the only jump the team made due to an April 15 severe weather cancellation of the air show and winds exceeding 20 mph gusts April 16. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Thunderbird re-enlistment

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Lt. Col. Kevin Robbins, U.S. Air Force Thunderbird commander, administers the enlisted oath to seven Eglin members April 14 before the Eglin practice air show. The Eglin members re-enlisting in the Air Force are: Tech. Sgt. Travis L. Harrington, 46th Weather Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Destry Skweres, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Roger Mitchell, 29th Training Systems Squadron; Staff Sgt. Chassity Ware, 33rd Maintenance Group; Staff Sgt. Cory Riley, 780th Test Squadron; Staff Sgt. Dale Sowers, 96th Communications Squadron; and Airman 1st Class John Henry, 96th Logistics readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Golden Knights jump

OVER EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Schnell, Golden Knights Tandem Team and freefall videographer, holds on to Bill Pearson, Channel 3 reporter out of Pensacola, Fla., as they fall out of the C-41 during the practice air show at Eglin April 14. The practice show was the only jump the team made due to an April 15 severe weather cancellation of the air show and winds exceeding 20 mph gusts April 16. Sergeant Schnell is in his seventh year with the Golden Knights and has made more than 5,000 freefall jumps, 950 tandem jumps and 100 military static line jumps. Sergeant Schnell celebrated former President George H.W. Bush's 80th birthday in the summer of 2004 with a tandem jump. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Golden Knights jump

OVER EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- U.S. Army Sgt. Todd Beckel, Black Demonstration Team narrator, begins his leap out of the C-41 as the first of the demonstration team to exit the plane April 14 during the practice show. Sergeant Beckel saluted the other jumpers as he leaped from the aircraft. The practice show was the only jump the team made due to an April 15 severe weather cancellation of the air show and winds exceeding 20 mph gusts April 16. Sergeant Beckel is in his first year with the Golden Knights and has made more than 500 freefall jumps in his Army career. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Florida trails

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Scenic Northwest Florida views will be along the trails of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion Swamp Run scheduled for May 6. The 6th RTB, stationed at Auxiliary Field 6 on the Eglin Air Force Base military reservation, will be hosting a 5k and 10k race in conjunction with the Ranger Camp's annual Open House event. Demonstrations will include rappelling, weapons, parachute as well as boat and reptile displays. Those interested in the open house or the run can find more information as well as pre-registration information at www.swamprangers.com and click on the "Ranger Run" tab. Participants can pre-register on-line or by mail before April 30 for $15. After pre-registration deadline, participants can still register until race time for $20. (Photo by U.S. Army Capt. Kevin Capozzoli)

Florida trails

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Scenic Northwest Florida views will be along the trails of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion Swamp Run scheduled for May 6. The 6th RTB, stationed at Auxiliary Field 6 on the Eglin Air Force Base military reservation, will be hosting a 5k and 10k race in conjunction with the Ranger Camp's annual Open House event. Demonstrations will include rappelling, weapons, parachute as well as boat and reptile displays. Those interested in the open house or the run can find more information as well as pre-registration information at www.swamprangers.com and click on the "Ranger Run" tab. Participants can pre-register on-line or by mail before April 30 for $15. After pre-registration deadline, participants can still register until race time for $20. (Photo by U.S. Army Capt. Kevin Capozzoli)

Ranger on target

CAMP RUDDER, Fla. -- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Chip Lesley, 6th Ranger Training Battalion, demonstrate ambush tactics as part of an ambush demonstration team during a previous 6th RTB Ranger Open House. Visitors to the 2007 Ranger Open House will experience Ranger demonstrations and get hands-on with weapons and equipment used by the Rangers. Exhibits will include weapons, diving equipment, boats, parachutes, medical equipment and a day-in-the-life display for the Ranger training school. They also demonstrated repelling, downed pilot rescues and hand-to-hand combat demonstrations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Ranger at heart

CAMP RUDDER, Fla. -- Andrew Dobrenchuk looks through the aims an M-4 rifle during a previous Ranger Open House at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion here. The 6th RTB, stationed at Auxiliary Field 6 on the Eglin Air Force Base military reservation, will be hosting a 5k and 10k race prior to the Ranger Camp's annual Open House event May 6. Demonstrations will include rappelling, weapons, parachute as well as boat and reptile displays. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Take down

CAMP RUDDER, Fla. -- U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Craig Chilson demonstrates how to take an opponent down on U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Labaron Paschall during the hand-to-hand combat demonstration at a previous 6th Ranger Training Battalion Open House. The 6th RTB, stationed at Auxiliary Field 6 on the Eglin Air Force Base military reservation, will be hosting a 5k and 10k race prior to the Ranger Camp's annual Open House event May 6. Demonstrations will include rappelling, weapons, parachute as well as boat and reptile displays. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Monumental pitch

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Skipper Kemp, Eglin Youth Center family programs flight chief, throws out the first pitch for the 2007 youth baseball season at Skipper Field April 3. Mr. Kemp, the former director of the Eglin Youth Center for 12 years, was instrumental in creating the baseball fields at Eglin 30 years ago. Skipper Field, formerly known as Field 1, was named after him five years ago in dedication of his work. This was the first time in his 30-year history at the center that Mr. Kemp has thrown out the first pitch. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

'Nine-O-Nine'

DESTIN, Fla. -- First Lt. Dan Montes and his skydiving partner Dan Flynn free fall in the moments after leaping from the bomb bay of the "Nine-O-Nine," a restored B-17 Flying Fortress. The aircraft is named by the Collings Foundation in honor of a 91st Bomb Group, 323rd Squadron plane of the same name which completed 140 missions without an abort or loss of a crewman. Both men work for the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Courtesy photo)

'Nine-O-Nine'

OVER GULF OF MEXICO, Fla. -- The Emerald Coast town of Destin, Fla., can be seen from the turret gunner's position on a B-17 Flying Fortress named "Nine-O-Nine." First Lt. Dan Montes, Air Force Research Laboratory, jumped out of the bomb bay March 3 to experience "living history" during a recent skydive. The aircraft is named by the Collings Foundation in honor of a 91st Bomb Group, 323rd Squadron plane of the same name which completed 140 missions without an abort or loss of a crewman. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Dan Montes)