Dropping bombs

Squadron Leader Sion Hughes, a British exchange pilot and Capt. Gary Beisner, a 46th Operations Group test engineer, take off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., during a bomb rack unit jettison test May 21. The mission collected separations data for the BRU-61carriage system loaded with a Guided Bomb Unit-39 over the Gulf of Mexico. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the first DoD aircraft to test jettison capabilities of the BRU-61. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

Dropping bombs

Squadron Leader Sion Hughes, a British exchange pilot and Capt. Gary Beisner, a 46th Operations Group test engineer, return to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., after a bomb rack unit jettison test May 21. The mission collected separations data for the BRU-61carriage system loaded with a Guided Bomb Unit-39 over the Gulf of Mexico. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the first DoD aircraft to test jettison capabilities of the BRU-61. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

Dropping bombs

An F-16 from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, releases a Guided Bomb Unit-31 over the Utah test range May 17 as part of Combat Hammer, a weapons system evaluation program. Aircraft from many different squadrons were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground evaluation conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The squadron hosts evaluations at Hill, Tyndall and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Dropping bombs

An F-16 from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, releases a Guided Bomb Unit-24 over the Utah test range May 17 as part of Combat Hammer, a weapons system evaluation program. Aircraft from many different squadrons were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground evaluation conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The squadron hosts evaluations at Hill, Tyndall and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Return trip

The 113th Wing flagship F-16 Fighting Falcon, from the District of Columbia Air National Guard, taxis out toward the runway at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., returning home to Washington, Aug. 29. The F-16s arrived here Aug. 26 as an evacuation measure from the impending Hurricane Irene. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

Return trip

An F-16 Fighting Falcon, from the District of Columbia Air National Guard, taxis out toward the runway at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., returning home to Washington, Aug. 29. The F-16s arrived here Aug. 26 as an evacuation measure from the impending Hurricane Irene. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

Return trip

An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, with the District of Columbia Air National Guard, prepares the aircraft to return home to Washington, Aug. 29 from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-16s arrived here Aug. 26 as an evacuation measure from the impending Hurricane Irene. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

Captured Falcon

An F-16 Fighting Falcon tests the BAK-12 cable system on Eglin's recently renovated runway Aug. 22. The aircraft completed a high-speed taxi engagement and pull at the targeted speed of 115 knots to certify the system was working properly. (Courtesy photo)

Pit stop

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., fuels up during a Combat Hammer mission at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The Combat Hammer missions are 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. (Courtesy photo)

Recovery

46th Maintenance Group Airmen recover an F-16 Fighting Falcon upon its return to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., from a sortie July 22. The 46th Maintenance Group maintains A-10s, F-16s, F-15s, and other aircraft for both the 46th TW and 53rd Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Ready to roll

53rd Wing pilots prepare for a sortie in F-16 Fighting Falcons at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 22. The wing is responsible for operational testing and evaluation of new equipment and systems proposed for use by these forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Out of the rain

A 46th Test Wing maintainer waits for the pilot of her F-16 Fighting Falcon to begin the preflight checks prior to a mission at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 22. The 46th Maintenance Group maintains A-10s, F-16s, F-15s, and other aircraft for both the 46th TW and 53rd Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)