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.)

Midair pit stop

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 20th Fighter Wing soar over the coastline of North West Florida during a Combat Hammer sortie mission March 17. More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Look out below

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 20th Fighter Wing releases a Guided Bomb Unit-31 over the Eglin Air Force Base range March 16. Approximately 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Loaded

An F-16 Fighting Falcon loaded with a Guided Bomb Unit-12 from the 20th Fighter Wing waits to taxi out for a sortie March 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Flight checks

Senior Airman Keith Tunstall and Staff Sgt. Bryan Waldo, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, execute flight checks on their F-16 Fighting Falcon March 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Let's roll

Marine Lt. Col. James Wellons, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 commander, begins to roll as Airman 1st Class Andrew Merriman, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, leads him out of the hangar at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Parking permit

Airman 1st Class William McCoy, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshals his F-16 into the hangar after a sortie March 18 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-16s were brought here to provide familiarization training to the 33rd Fighter Wing pilots prior to the arrival of the F-35 and to establish a “battle rhythm” for the 33rd flightline operations. Currently, Marines and Air Force pilots are completing daily sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

"16" point inspection

Marine Lt. Col. James Wellons, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 commander, inspects his aircraft prior to his sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Got your back

Airman 1st Class William McCoy, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, watches as aircraft checks are performed prior to his F-16’s sortie March 18 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-16s were brought here to provide familiarization training to the 33rd Fighter Wing pilots prior to the arrival of the F-35 and to establish a “battle rhythm” for the 33rd flightline operations. Currently, Marines and Air Force pilots are completing daily sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Logging in

Marine Lt. Col. James Wellons, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 commander, reviews the F-16 maintenance log book before his F-16 sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

De-brief

Marine Capt. Mark Noble, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, talks about his flight with an F-16 trainer at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. After completing his second familiarization flight here, he was cleared to fly solo missions. The F-16 sorties flown by Marine pilots last week were the first flights for the VMFAT-501 - the Marine squadron responsible for training on the F-35B. The flights are designed to familiarize the pilots with an aircraft similar to the F-35 as well as introduce them to the airspace and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Wild blue

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 40th Flight Test Squadron tests a weapon over the Gulf of Mexico Feb. 8. The mission tested the capabilities of the Miniature Air Launch Decoy-Jammer. The Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer is an air-launched programmable craft that duplicates the combat flight profiles and signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

Bring it down

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 40th Flight Test Squadron prepares for landing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., after a test mission. The jet was part of a Miniature Air Launch Decoy-Jammer test Feb. 8. The Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer is an air-launched programmable craft that duplicates the combat flight profiles and signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)