Fully loaded Thunderbolt

Maj. Joe McGill, a flyer for the 40th Flight Test Squadron, climbs into his A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a morning takeoff from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 19. The aircraft was loaded with approximately nine MK-82s, seven missiles and a full 30mm round load for the GAU-8. The sortie was to test the weapons worked properly with new aircraft software upgrades. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

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Fully loaded Thunderbolt

Senior Airman Victoria Parker, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, secures Maj. Joe McGill, a flyer for the 40th Flight Test Squadron, into an A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a morning takeoff from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 19. The aircraft was loaded with approximately nine MK-82s, seven missiles and a full 30mm round load for the GAU-8. The sortie was to test the weapons worked properly with new aircraft software upgrades. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

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Fully loaded Thunderbolt

Maj. Joe McGill, a flyer for the 40th Flight Test Squadron, performs checks on the bombs attached to the wing of an A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a morning takeoff from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 19. The aircraft was loaded with approximately nine MK-82s, seven missiles and a full 30mm round load for the GAU-8. The sortie was to test the weapons worked properly with new aircraft software upgrades. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

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Fully loaded Thunderbolt

Maj. Joe McGill, a flyer for the 40th Flight Test Squadron, performs his preflight checks on an A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a morning takeoff from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 19. The aircraft was loaded with approximately nine MK-82s, seven missiles and a full 30mm round load for the GAU-8. The sortie was to test the weapons worked properly with new aircraft software upgrades. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

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Fully loaded Thunderbolt

Maj. Joe McGill, a flyer for the 40th Flight Test Squadron, performs checks on the bombs attached to the wing of an A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a morning takeoff from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 19. The aircraft was loaded with approximately nine MK-82s, seven missiles and a full 30mm round load for the GAU-8. The sortie was to test the weapons worked properly with new aircraft software upgrades. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Fully loaded Thunderbolt

Maj. Joe McGill, a flyer for the 40th Flight Test Squadron, performs preflight checks on an A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a morning takeoff from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 19. The aircraft was loaded with approximately nine MK-82s, seven missiles and a full 30mm round load for the GAU-8. The sortie was to test the weapons worked properly with new aircraft software upgrades. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Fully loaded Thunderbolt

Maj. Joe McGill, a flyer for the 40th Flight Test Squadron, performs checks on the bombs attached to the wing of an A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a morning takeoff from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 19. The aircraft was loaded with approximately nine MK-82s, seven missiles and a full 30mm round load for the GAU-8. The sortie was to test the weapons worked properly with new aircraft software upgrades. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Fully loaded Thunderbolt

Senior Airman Victoria Parker, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, pulls the chocks from the wheels of an A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a morning takeoff from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 19. The aircraft was loaded with approximately nine MK-82s, seven missiles and a full 30mm round load for the GAU-8. The sortie was to test the weapons worked properly with new aircraft software upgrades. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

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Fully loaded Thunderbolt

Published May 20, 2015