Moving North

A four-ship of F-15s taxis toward the runway at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 27. The 96th and the 53rd Wing evacuated their aircraft due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Isaac. The Wings’ F-16s flew to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the F-15s flew to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

3D F-15

An image of an F-15 from SEEK EAGLE's 3D scanner currently in use at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Courtesy photo)

46th weapons load competition

Senior Airman Hector Vazquez, from the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, adjusts the GBU-12 onto the aircraft during the 46th Maintenance Group’s fourth quarter weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Dec. 21. The best of Blue AMU and Red AMU met to load an AIM-9 and GBU-12 onto an F-16 and F-15 respectively. AMU Red won the competition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

Hammer

A 4th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle releases a Guided Bomb Unit-24 over the Utah Test and Training Range during a Combat Hammer mission May 5 near Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Combat Hammer, an air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program, is maintained by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. 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)

The hook up

A 46th Test Wing F-15E Strike Eagle moves into position for refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker from 927th Air Refueling Wing Jan. 18. The F-15E made its first flight with a new radar – the APG-82. It replaces the 24-year-old APG-70 radar system. The four-year-old project is managed by the F-15E Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Felicia Welch)

Blue view

A 46th Test Wing F-15E Strike Eagle carries a new radar system on its first flight sortie Jan. 18. The new APG-82 radar replaces the 24-year-old APG-70 radar system. The four-year-old project is managed by the F-15E Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Felicia Welch)

Into place

F-15E maintainers from the 46th Maintenance Group move into place as their aircraft taxis toward them for a final check before takeoff from Eglin Air Force Base Fla., Jan. 18. The Strike Eagle flew the first ever sortie with the new APG-82 radar. The new radar replaces the 24-year-old APG-70 radar system. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Gameplan

Steve Coleman, crew chief, reviews the F-15E logbook with Maj. Raja Chari, pilot, and Capt Chris Dupin, 40th Flight Test Squadron weapons system officer, prior to their sortie from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 18. The Strike Eagle flew the first ever sortie with the new APG-82 radar. The new radar replaces the 24-year-old APG-70 radar system. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

46th TW biofuel test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Staff Sgt. Matthew Bardell, Staff Sgt. Corey Briggs and Senior Airman Jacob Prine connect a fueling hose to a F-15 prior to a flight test of new environmentally-friendly fuel Oct.22. Aircrews from the 46th Test Wing and Air Force engineers evaluated flight parameters using a blend of standard JP-8 fuel and hydro-treated, renewable jet biofuel. This was the second test conducted at Eglin; an A-10 fuel test proved sucessful results in March. The Air Force is working toward an ambitious goal of changing half of the continental U.S. jet fuel requirement to alternative fuels by 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Andrew Caulk)

Shady Eagle

The 46th Test Wing maintainers beat the heat under a 53rd Wing F-15 prior to arming it 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.)

Hold up

A 46th Test Wing maintainer prepares 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.)

Waiting in the wings

46th Test Wing maintainers prepare a 53rd Wing F-15 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.)