The crew chief

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Houser, a 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainer, communicates with the pilot of the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter during flight checks prior to the first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Houser was the crew chief for the first sortie. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

flight checks

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, begins flight checks on the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Stepping up

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, walks up to the cockpit of the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter, followed by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Houser, aircraft crew chief for the sortie, prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The walkaround

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, walks around the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The taxi

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter taxis out for its first training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The taxi

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter taxis out for its first training sortie followed by an F-16 chase aircraft March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)