"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)