Under the hood

Lt. Col. John Wilbourne, 58th Fighter Squadron commander, and Airman 1st Class Christopher Pizzitola, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, look over their F-16 prior to flying the 33rd Fighter Wing’s first sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 18. The mission was a long-time coming for the former F-15 wing that transitioned to the DoD’s first F-35 training wing in October 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Andrew Caulk)

Show me the way

Airman 1st Class Christopher Pizzitola, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, marshals Lt. Col. John Wilbourne, 58th Fighter Squadron commander, and his F-16 out at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 18. Colonel Wilbourne and Maj. Matthew Renbarger, 58th FS deputy of operations, flew the first sortie for the 33rd Fighter Wing since it switched to its new training mission designation. The mission was a long-time coming for the former F-15 wing that transitioned to the DoD’s first F-35 training wing in October 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Andrew Caulk)

Active flightline

The long-dormant flightline of the 33rd Fighter Wing sprang to life Jan. 13 as four F-16s from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., arrived to the base. The aircraft were brought to the wing to help prepare the pilots and maintainers for the imminent arrival of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Beddown

An F-16 crew chief from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., prepares the aircraft for beddown at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 13. Four F-16s from Luke were brought to the wing to help prepare the pilots and maintainers for the imminent arrival of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Top Gun

Airman 1st Class Tom Cruise, 46th Test Wing, walks away after arming a 53rd Wing F-16 for take-off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. More than 1,000 personnel of the 46th Maintenance Group are responsible for maintenance procedures for all of the 46th and 53rd aircraft located at Eglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Burner

A 46th Test Wing F-16 prepares for take-off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. More than 1,000 personnel of the 46th Maintenance Group are responsible for maintenance procedures for all of the 46th and 53rd aircraft located at Eglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Up in smoke

An F-16 Fighting Falcon explodes, sending debris and shrapnel into the air Aug. 19 on the Eglin Air Force Base range. The explosion was a static test of the flight termination system to be used in the QF-16. The purpose was to demonstrate that the FTS design will be sufficient to immediately terminate the flight of a QF-16, as well as determine a range safety debris footprint. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Split

An explosion ripped the F-16 Fighting Falcon into two pieces and scattered debris across the Eglin Air Force Base range Aug. 19. The explosion was a test of the flight termination system to be used in the QF-16. The purpose was to demonstrate that the FTS design will be sufficient to immediately terminate the flight of a QF-16, as well as determine a range safety debris footprint. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Storm coming

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 40th Flight Test Squadron awaits its fiery fate Aug. 19 on the Eglin Air Force Base range. The aircraft was exploded as part of a test of the flight termination system to be used in the QF-16. The purpose was to demonstrate that the FTS design will be sufficient to immediately terminate the flight of a QF-16, as well as determine a range safety debris footprint. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Broken

An explosion ripped an F-16 Fighting Falcon into two pieces and scattered debris across the Eglin range Aug. 19. The explosion was a test of the flight termination system to be used in the QF-16. The purpose was to demonstrate that the FTS design will be sufficient to immediately terminate the flight of a QF-16, as well as determine a range safety debris footprint. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Fighting falcon

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 79th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., releases a Guided Bomb Unit-12 during a Weapons System Evaluation Program mission at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. This is the second of three weeks of evaluation at Hill AFB by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The WSEP program is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aerial system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. For many of the aircrew participating in WSEP, it is the first time employing live weapons. This provides a level of combat experience many units face during combat. Courtesy photo.

Wingmen

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Two of the Air Force Thunderbirds F-16s perform an inverted pass while three others come around for another pass during the practice show April 9 here. The weekend airshow drew more than 70,000 people each day. The T-birds headlined the show. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

13 WSEP

Capt. Michael Schmidt, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa, Japan, fires an AGM-65h Maverick air-to-surface missile while participating here for Weapon System Evaluation Program, commonly known as Combat Hammer. The WSEP program, run by the 53d Weapons Evaluation Group, is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aerial system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. For many of the aircrew participating in WSEP, it is the first time employing live weapons. This provides a level of combat experience many units face during combat. (U.S. Air Force photo)

13 WSEP

Capt. Michael Schmidt, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa, Japan, fires an AGM-65h Maverick air-to-surface missile while participating here for Weapon System Evaluation Program, commonly known as Combat Hammer. The WSEP program, run by the 53d Weapons Evaluation Group, is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aerial system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. For many of the aircrew participating in WSEP, it is the first time employing live weapons. This provides a level of combat experience many units face during combat. (U.S. Air Force photo)