Aircraft Maintenance and Operations

Military personnel conducting maintenance on various aircraft in hangars and aboard carriers, emphasizing teamwork and technical skills in aviation readiness.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Daniel Wynn, 36th Fighter Squadron director of operations, assists Dr. Victoria Coleman, USAF Chief Scientist, into an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 23, 2022. The 36th FS provided Coleman with operations briefings and a familiarization flight to inform her on the equipment and technology utilized to complete their mission in the ROK.

240126-N-ED228-1119 PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 26, 2024) Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Todd Sherman, left, from Columbus, Ohio, and Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Joshua Roseberry, from Fairland, Okla., rotate the tail rotor of an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14, in the hangar bay aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations conducting advanced tactical training that increases warfighting capability and tactical proficiency across all domains.

NASA personnel tour the hangar of a U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, June 7, 2022. NASA and the 509th Bomb Wing engaged in cross-organizational communication, discussing common mission components between the two organizations. Finding new ways to enhance current partnerships ensures innovation and growth, allowing men and women of the 509th BW to maintain the most lethal combat force in the world.

230408-N-PA221-1059 PHILIPPINE SEA, (April 8, 2023). U.S. Navy Sailors perform maintenance on an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the "Fighting Redcocks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 landing gear aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

(Center) Staff Sgt. Joseph Snow, a dedicated crew chief, with the18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron uses an aircraft handler to push an F-15 Eagle in to a HAZ in preperation for a typhoon Muifa at Kadena Air Base, Aug 3. Typhoon season last from June through November.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Daniel Wynn, 36th Fighter Squadron director of operations, assists Dr. Victoria Coleman, USAF Chief Scientist, into an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 23, 2022. The 36th FS provided Coleman with operations briefings and a familiarization flight to inform her on the equipment and technology utilized to complete their mission in the ROK.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group Expeditionary Depot Maintenance team replace the wings on an A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to the 357th Fighter Generation Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 11, 2022. Due to the extensive in-depth work required to complete a wing swap, skilled professionals from the 309th AMXG Expeditionary Depot forward deployed to DM for this major component maintenance.

Staff Sgt. Chad Exner and Senior Airman Angelo Cepeda unload munitions from an F-16 Fighting Falcon during an initial certification at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Oct. 19, 2012. Exner and Cepeda are assigned to the 510th Weapons Section.

. U.S. Air Force Corrosion Control Facility personnel Kristian Snoots and Shelby Youngo remove masking from NASA 862, which is an F/A-18D based at NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The corrosion control facility is located on Edwards Air Force Base and is also known as the Paint Barn.

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs with Marine Aircraft Group 13 and Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 are secured in the maintenance bay aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) as part of the U.S. Marine Corps lightning carrier concept demonstration off the coast of Southern California, April 3, 2022. The lightning carrier concept demonstration shows Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships are capable of operating as dedicated fixed-wing platforms when needed, capable of bringing fifth generation short takeoff/vertical landing aircraft wherever they are required. This was the first time maximum capacity F-35B Lightning II aircraft were tested for operation aboard a landing helicopter assault (LHA) amphibious assault ship.

U.S. Airmen assigned to the Liberty Wing attend the 2023 Annual Load Crew Competition at RAF Lakenheath, England, Jan. 10, 2024. Load crew competitions enable crews to showcase their efficiency in swiftly preparing aircraft for missions, ensuring a quick response time during real operations and rapid deployments.

040825-F-1740G-003. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

030813-F-3217C-001. Base: Tyndall Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AETC

040814-F-9119W-010. Base: Mcentire Ang Station State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group Expeditionary Depot Maintenance team replace the wings on an A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to the 357th Fighter Generation Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 11, 2022. Due to the extensive in-depth work required to complete a wing swap, skilled professionals from the 309th AMXG Expeditionary Depot forward deployed to DM for this major component maintenance.

WATERS TO THE EAST OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA (Oct. 9, 2013) Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Chantel Boudeau, left, from Perchtolsdorf, Austria, and Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman Ryan Eilenfeld, from Galion, Ohio, remove panels from an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Royal Maces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Airman First Class Kyle Daniels, a communication and navigation technician assigned to the 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, secures the toes on the ramp of a C-5 Galaxy. The 60th Maintenance Squadron was responsible for generating aircraft throughout the night in support of Crisis Look 14-04, Travis Air Force Base, 3-6 Sep 2014. (Released - U.S. Air Force Photograph/Heide Couch)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Fidel Goshay, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron tank farm NCO in charge, prepares to raise an external aircraft fuel tank onto the vertical tank storage system at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 16, 2022. The VTSS system rotates, allowing for easy access to tanks that are marked for inspection or maintenance.

U.S. Air Force Col. Mark Orek, Commander of the 442nd Operations Group shows Sgt. Maj. Howard kreamer, U.S. Strategic Command Senior Enlisted Leader the inside of an A-10 cockpit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Aug. 02, 2022. The visit was meant to show Whiteman's importance within the Nuclear Triad.

Staff Sgt. James Griffin, 25th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew team chief, prepares to load an A-10 Thunderbolt II while the engines run at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 15, 2022. Loading the jet while the engines are on requires precision and care from all parties involved. The weapons load crew team performed the on-loading under the supervision of their leadership and peers. Upon completion of the load, they perform peer checks the ensure it was done correctly.

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Qwashewn Mayes, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, tows a CH-53E Super Stallion, assigned to the White Knights of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), out of the hanger bay aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 6, 2024. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, comprised of USS Boxer (LHD 4), Somerset, and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), and the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are underway conducting integrated training and routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tyelor Henderson, assigned to the 525th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, prepares to transport an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile while competing in a timed F-22 Raptor load crew competition at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 7, 2022. Load crew competitions provide the 3rd Maintenance Groups weapons loaders an opportunity to showcase their speed and efficiency, while honing teamwork as an integral component of the U.S. Air Forces Fly, Fight, Win mantra. Henderson is from Kansas City, Mo.

Vertical Magazine contributing editor Elan Head, and photographer Lloyd Horgan interviewed Lt. Col. Charles Thomas, 415th Special Operations Squadron Commander. This was part of a two week documentation of the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. April 14, 2022.

U.S. Air Force members of the 119th Wing assemble an MQ-9 reaper aircraft for exercise Valiant Shield at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, May 26, 2022. Valiant Shield is a dynamic force employment exercise hosted at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, from May 25 through June 20, 2022. Valiant Shield 2022 was a 12-day joint field training exercise (FTX) aimed to enhance integration between the US forces by conducting joint operations at sea, on land, in air, and in cyberspace. It provided an opportunity for the MQ-9 enterprise members to partner together and make a difference while providing dynamic force employment, and maritime domain awareness in a new location. Members of the 119th Wing and 174th Attack Squadron partnered together to demonstrate the capabilities of the MQ-9 Reaper in an overseas location.

Many aircraft were on display or performing at here at the Smoky Mountain Air Show Sept. 10-11, 2022. Some were assigned to overnight in the newest hangar at the 134th Air Refueling Wing.

An A-29 Super Tucano, from the 81st Fighter Squadron, runs its engine prior to takeoff June 23, 2016, at Moody Air Base, Ga. The 81st FS conducts combat training for Afghan Air Force pilots and maintainers using the A-29.

Children from the village of Inalahan look outside the door of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 15, 2022. The 36th Security Forces Squadron partnered with the village of Inalahan as part of the Sister Village Sister Squadron program, which pairs military units with local villages to foster and develop a program of mutual sharing and understanding between the people of Guam and military personnel and their families.

A KC-135 sits in the 507th Maintenance Squadron hangar on Tinker Air Force Base, Aug. 17, 2022. The aircraft's engines were temporarily removed for maintenance.

A GFU-8 Ammunition Loading Assembly system, or ALA, sits on the flightline before a renaming ceremony at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 12, 2023. The 51st Munitions Armament Flight honored the life and service of Staff Sgt. Tyrell Harris by renaming the ALA in his honor during a weapons load crew of the quarter competition.

U.S. Airmen with the 3rd Wing recover an F-22 Raptor at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport during exercise Polar Force 22-4 in Anchorage, Alaska, March 31, 2022. This is the first Polar Force led by the 3rd Wing, with the 673d Air Base Wing as a supporting participant. PF 22-4 provides effective, flexible and capabilities-centered forces, ready for deployment worldwide, and enables real-world proficiency in response to variety crises.

A C-130 Hercules sits in a hangar on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Feb. 13, 2024. Service members from the U.S. Air Force, Army and the German army prepared for an airborne operation over Ramstein Air Base. Air Force

January 29, 2007 - A C-17 Globemaster III sits in Hangar 4 after being pressure washed during a routine home station inspection at McChord Air Force Base, Washington.

Pallets of ammunition bound for Ukraine are loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III during a security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Aug. 9, 2022. The Department of Defense is providing Ukraine with critical capabilities to defend against Russian aggression under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

070128-N-9712C-003. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC) Scene Major Command Shown: USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76)

DF-SC-86-12581. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Hangar deck personnel use an SD-1D spotting dolly to move a Fighter Squadron 142 (VF-142) F-14A Tomcat aircraft aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69) during FLEET EX '90. Subject Operation/Series: FLEET EX '90 Country: Caribbean Sea

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Rosamaria Munoz, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Strike Aircraft Maintenance Unit, speaks with students about the 7-15E Strike Eagle on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 26, 2024. Airmen from the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron supported the Project Quesada initiative, an Air Combat Command wide initiative designed to provide young people from diverse backgrounds an exposure to aviation career fields by partnering with Hispanic Serving Institutions and Minority Serving Institutions. Air Force

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle is suspended by a crane during a Crash, Damaged and Disabled Aircraft Recovery exercise at RAF Lakenheath, England, Jan. 2, 2024. RAF Mildenhall and Liberty Wing Airmen participated in the CDDAR exercise to recertify them for aircraft recovery.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 48th Maintenance Unit participate in a quarterly load crew competition at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, June 16, 2022. The load crew competition consisted of members from the 492nd, 494th and 495th Aircraft Maintenance Units.

060414-N-9898L-097. Base: USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Equipment and luggage stay securely strapped down on a Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III here March 25. Over the past two weeks, the RAAF played a vital role in delivering humanitarian airlift in support of Operation Tomodachi.

Jeremiah Price, the Wish recipient, boards a Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter with the help of the Army National Guard at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, March 31, 2023. Price received a tour as part of a collaboration between Colorados Make-A-Wish Foundation and Buckley Space Force Base to provide Price with his very own Top Gun experience.

020619-F-8425S-010. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 74th Fighter Generation Squadron load weapons onto an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a third quarter load crew competition at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Oct. 7, 2022. During these quarterly competitions, participants are required to do a uniform inspection, take a written exam and perform loading duties. The 74th FGS team claimed the title for Moodys top third quarter load crew.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 74th Fighter Generation Squadron load weapons onto an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a third quarter load crew competition at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Oct. 7, 2022. During these quarterly competitions, participants are required to do a uniform inspection, take a written exam and perform loading duties. The 74th FGS team claimed the title for Moodys top third quarter load crew.

A-10 Thunderbolt II 'Warthog'

050824-N-7676W-069. Complete Scene Caption: US Navy (USN) Rear Admiral (RDML) (lower half) Jay M. Cohen, CHIEF of Naval Research, explains the underwater discharge water jets prior to the christening of the Advanced Electric Ship Demonstrator (AESD), the Sea Jet, during ceremonies at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) in Bayview, Idaho (ID). The Sea Jet will operate on Lake Pend Oreille, where it will be serve as a model representing a destroyer size surface ship to test and demonstrate various technologies. Among the first technologies tested is an underwater discharge water jet from Rolls-Royce Naval Marine, Inc., called AWJ-21, a propulsion concept with the goals of providing increased propulsive efficiency, reduced acoustic signature, and improved maneuverability over previous Destroyer Class combatants. Base: Bayview State: Idaho (ID) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Pallets of assets are secured aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 21st Airlift Squadron, for airlift transport at RAF Fairford, England, Feb. 9, 2024. Operations like this allow the 501st Combat Support Wing to fulfill higher-headquarter directed taskings faster than the standard process and enable a larger quantity of munitions to be shipped. A single airlift mission can save over seven weeks worth of work as well as highlight the agile combat employment capabilities that the 501st offers. Air Force

U.S. Airmen with the 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron swap an engine on a KC-10 Extender at Travis Air Force Base, California, Oct. 25, 2022. Airmen assigned to the 660th AMXS maintain, repair and advance Travis AFBs fleet of KC-10 aircraft.

The 355th Medical group hosted civilian medical providers for an immersion tour of various units at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 19, 2022. The 355th MDG invited providers on base in appreciation for all they do for DM Airmen and their families.

The 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, Utah National Guard, load four AH-64D Apache helicopters onboard a C-5 Galaxy, to be transported to Morocco in support of African Lion 22, a U.S. Africa Command annual exercise on Saturday, June 18, 2022.The 1-211th ARB aircraft maintaniners prepped the aircraft for loading onto the C-5 by folding the blades and then members of the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard, assisted in loading and securing the helicopters on the C-5 from Travis Air Force Base, California, for transportation to Morocco.

U.S. Marines and Sailors prepare to launch a rigid-hull inflatable boat during Littoral Exercise I (LEX) aboard the USS Wichita on Jan. 25, 2022. During LEX I, Marines and Sailors are experimenting with new concepts and forces to prepare for future scenarios in littoral environments along the East Coast. They will be testing new tactics and training with multi-domain reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance teams in accordance with Force Design 2030. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elijah J. Abernathy)

Soldiers from the Iowa Army National Guards B/171 Aviation Regiment tie a sling to a historic F-80 Shooting Star aircraft at the Air National Guard Paint Facility in Sioux City, Iowa on April 11, 2023. The group will use a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to deliver the F-80 back to Camp Dodge where the aircraft will be placed on static display. U.S. Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 62d Airlift Wing and Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., conduct Combat Offload Method B training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Jan. 11, 2024. The training exercise simulated a combat offload event ensuring readiness in executing todays global airlift mission and providing mission-ready crew and aircraft.

military helicopter

A C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron is loaded with equipment in support of a USAID-led humanitarian mission at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Sep. 10, 2022. USAID leads the U.S. Government's international development and disaster assistance, helping people emerge from humanitarian crises, such as the catastrophic flooding currently plaguing Pakistan.

220726-N-CH260-2056 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 26, 2022) Capt. Gordon Tait, right, Royal Canadian Air Force, plays bagpipes during a foreign object debris walk down in the hangar bay aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The worlds largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the worlds oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

220404-N-CZ759-1039 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 4, 2022) - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Russell L. Smith speaks to the crew in the hangar bay aboard amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), April 4. MCPON Smith visited Tripoli to engage with Sailors and discuss their concerns, quality of life issues and champion Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday's Get Real, Get Better” initiative. Get Real, Get Better” is a call to action for every Navy leader to apply a set of Navy-proven leadership and problem solving best practices that empower our people to achieve exceptional performance.

Airmen from the 9th Airlift Squadron and 455th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron with Marines from the Marine Expeditionary Brigade load vehicles into a C-5M Super Galaxy Oct. 6, 2014, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Airmen and Marines loaded more than 266,000 pounds of cargo onto the C-5M as part of retrograde operations in Afghanistan. During this mission, the crew reached more than 11 million pounds of cargo transported in a 50-day period.

Sailors, assigned to the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), guide an E/A-18G Growler, attached to the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, into the ship's hangar bay, March 24, 2023. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean executing its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), an intense, multi-week exercise designed to fully integrate a carrier strike group as a cohesive, multi-mission fighting force and to test their ability to carry out sustained combat operations from the sea. As the first-in-class ship of Ford-class aircraft carriers, CVN 78 represents a generational leap in the U.S. NavyÕs capacity to project power on a global scale.

SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 5, 2022) - Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Kyle Jorgenson, left, assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, from Orlando, explains the M777 towed 155mm howitzer to the public in the well deck of aboard Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) as part of San Francisco Fleet Week (SFFW) 2022, Oct. 5, 2022. SFFW is an opportunity for the American public to meet their Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard teams and experience Americas sea services. During fleet week, service members participate in various community service events, showcase capabilities and equipment to the community, and enjoy the hospitality of the city and its surrounding areas.

SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 5, 2022) - Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Kyle Jorgenson, left, assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, from Orlando, explains the M777 towed 155mm howitzer to the public in the well deck of aboard Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) as part of San Francisco Fleet Week (SFFW) 2022, Oct. 5, 2022. SFFW is an opportunity for the American public to meet their Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard teams and experience Americas sea services. During fleet week, service members participate in various community service events, showcase capabilities and equipment to the community, and enjoy the hospitality of the city and its surrounding areas.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Nicholas Disney, commander of the 8th Airlift Squadron, gives remarks during the 8th AS change of command ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, June 3, 2022. Aircrews of the 8th AS operate the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, directly supporting numerous U.S. government agencies and international forces in global operations ranging from troop airlift/airdrop to lifesaving medevac and humanitarian/disaster relief.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 21, 2019) Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Gustavo Aceves-Martinez prepares to move an AV-8B Harrier in the hangar bay of amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4). Boxer is underway conducting routine operations as a part of USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 prepare an MV-22B Osprey for stowage at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 30, 2023. VMM-363 will serve as the Aviation Combat Element for the upcoming iteration of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua McClurg, Staff Sgt. Jose Herrera and Master Sgt. David Cepin speak with students about the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" as well as their jobs on the Thunderbirds team on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 26, 2024. Airmen from the Thunderbirds team supported the Project Quesada initiative, an Air Combat Command wide initiative designed to provide young people from diverse backgrounds an exposure to aviation career fields by partnering with Hispanic Serving Institutions and Minority Serving Institutions. Air Force

040512-F-6335P-048. Base: Gulfport State: Mississippi (MS) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AETC

U.S. Marines with Recruiting Sub-Station Brentwood, Recruiting Station San Francisco, and their future Marines, tour the USS Harpers Ferry during San Francisco Fleet Week (SFFW), October 9, 2022. SFFW is an opportunity for the American public to meet their Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard service members, and experience Americas sea services, and for service members to participate in various community service events, and showcase their capabilities and equipment.

DN-ST-85-04080. Subject Operation/Series: INTENSE LOOK Base: Rota Country: Spain (ESP)

Personnel from the 31st Engineering Squadron and members of the Italian Air Force carefully mount the F-100 Super Sabre for the dedication ceremony. The plane was dedicated to the 31st Fighter Wing from the Italian Air Force. The F-100 was the USAF's first operational aircraft capable of flying faster than the speed of sound (760 mph) in level flight. Designed originally to destroy enemy aircraft in aerial combat, the F-100 later became a fighter-bomber. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. -- Urban Search and Rescue equipment of New York Task Force 1 is loaded into the cargo bay of a 21st Airlift Squadron C-17 by Air National Guardsmen of 105th Airlift Wing's Logistics Squadron. The 105th AW is providing support to NY TF 1 pending a military flight that will transport the team to Haiti for search and rescue operations.

220626-N-BP862-1021 TUNISIAN SEA (June 26, 2022) Aviation Boatswain's Mate Airman Kahron Sharpe, from Newport News, Virginia, drives a dolly in the hangar bay of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), June 26, 2022. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

U.S. Air Force Col. Adam Gaudinski, 173rd Maintenance Group commander, speaks about the accomplishments of the 173rd Maintenance Squadron during a ceremony July 29, 2022, at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Lt. Col. Kristopher Wolfram took over as commander of the 173rd MXS during the Assumption of Command ceremony .

Aircraft display at the War Memorial of Korea remembering the Korean War in Seoul, South Korea 2012

Caen Memorial Peace Museum, Caen, Normandy, France

Members of the Air Force Association examine a B-1 bomber aircraft on display in a hangar. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds prepare for their performance during The Great Texas Airshow, Apr. 22, 2022, at JBSA-Randolph, Texas. The Great Texas Airshow, featuring the Thunderbirds, is scheduled for April 23 thru 24 at JBSA-Randolph. The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world to display the pride, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. In addition to showcasing the elite skills all pilots must possess, the Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Force's premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane at NASA Kennedy Space Centers Shuttle Landing Facility, workers move the large shipping container with the New Horizons spacecraft inside. After it is unloaded, the spacecraft will be transported to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. New Horizons is designed to help us understand worlds at the edge of our solar system by making the first reconnaissance of Pluto and Charon - a 'double planet' and the last planet in our solar system to be visited by spacecraft. The mission will then visit one or more objects in the Kuiper Belt region beyond Neptune. New Horizons is scheduled to launch in January 2006, swing past Jupiter for a gravity boost and scientific studies in February or March 2007, and reach Pluto and its moon, Charon, in July 2015.

A U.S. Marine aircraft maintainer works on a proprotor assembly in an expeditionary hangar at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan.

Many aircraft were on display or performing at here at the Smoky Mountain Air Show Sept. 10-11, 2022. Some were assigned to overnight in the newest hangar at the 134th Air Refueling Wing.

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 24, 2012) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) move an MK 45 mine off an elevator in the hangar bay in preparation for the ship's last ammunition offload before returning to homeport. Enterprise is completing its final deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. The U.S. Navy is reliable, flexible, and ready to respond worldwide on, above, and below the sea. Join the conversation on social media using #warfighting.

DF-SC-87-02101. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Air Force ROTC cadets from the University of Southern Alabama Detachment 875 listen to a briefing at the hush house during a tour at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 23, 2022. The hush house space allows for maintainers to inspect engines before they are returned to the fleet to complete air tasking orders.

110812-N-BT887-303PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 12, 2011) Aviation Machinist's Mate Lynn Adrian, from Harris, Minn., wipes down an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Black Aces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment to the western Pacific Ocean and Arabian Gulf.

An Israeli Defense Forces Heron 1 Shoval UAV.

England, London-Hendon, RAF Museum London, Battle of Britain Gallery, RAF pilot statue with German Bf-110G night fighter aircraft (Editorial use Only)

Students and parents gather in different stations to talk to Airmen about their job and experience in the South Dakota Air National Guard during the Fall Career Day at Joe Foss Field, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, October 26, 2022. Career day allows students and parents a glimpse of careers at the 114th Fighter Wing and the benefits the South Dakota Air National Guard has to offer.

David Murphy, Near Earth Autonomy test pilot, carries a drone after a demonstration at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, January 23, 2024. Team Dover in cooperation with Boeing and Near Earth Autonomy tested a drone program for an autonomous C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft inspection project. Traditional inspections that require personnel to use a safety harness, maintenance stands, or vehicles can take hours to accomplish, but the drone can complete the same inspection in approximately 10 minutes.

Lyster Army Health Clinic conducts a relinquishment of responsibility ceremony for Sgt. Maj. Shavonda McLean at the Army Aviation Museum, September 23.

T-1 Jayhawks sit under the sun shelter after a few days of rain at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, on May 5, 2022. Laughlin's Sunshades provide shelter during Del Rio's scorching summers for maintainence personnel."

Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force KAI T-50 Golden Eagles assigned to the 53rd Air Demonstration Group, Black Eagles, sit on the flightline at Kunsan Air Base, ROK, Sept. 28, 2022. The Black Eagles performed in A-37 Dragonfly aircraft between 1994 and 2007, then transitioned to the T-50 in 2009.

GREAT LAKES, Il. (June 17, 2022) Members of Union League of Chicago Boys and Girls Club visted Naval Staion Great Lakes to view a Recruit Training Command Pass in Review and tour different "A" School facilities. Opened in 1911, NSGL is the Navys largest training installation and the home of the Navys only Boot Camp. Located on over 1600 acres overlooking Lake Michigan, the installation includes 1,153 buildings with 39 on the National Register of Historic Places. NSGL supports over 50 tenant commands and elements as well as over 20,000 Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and DoD civilians who live and work on the installation.

110605-N-SF704-214PACIFIC OCEAN (June 5, 2011) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) scrub the ship's hangar bay during a test of the shipÕs countermeasure wash down system. George Washington has successfully completed a six-month routine maintenance period and is underway conducting sea trials.

US Air Force (USAF) personnel of the 131st Fighter Wing (FW), Missouri Air National Guard (ANG), prepare to receive an estimated 2,000 or more evacuees from Hurricane Katrina at the former Boeing Final Assembly Plant in St. Louis, Missouri (MO). Base: Lambert Iap, Saint Louis State: Missouri (MO) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

Airmen assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing speak with patrons during the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, England, July 15, 2022. RIAT allowed the U.S. Air Force to demonstrate its strong forward presence in Europe as well as reinforce NATO and other European ally partnerships. The event, which showcased aircraft from across the globe celebrated aviations past and present while inspiring the next generation.

The Air Force-sponsored #43 Petty GMS Chevrolet goes through last minute checks before the Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR race April 24, 2022 in Alabama. Tech. Sgt. Andrew Brockman, 96th Maintenance Group, created the Air Force heritage B-29 Superfortress paint scheme that appeared on the car during the race. Driver, Erik Jones and the Air Force car led the NASCAR race multiple times and was in front until the final lap, ultimately finishing sixth. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

220707-N-NR343-1182 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN (July 7, 2022) Commander Task Force (CTF) 52 displays an unmanned minesweeping vehicle on the quarterdeck of littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), while pierside at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, July 7. Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region.

The Oberlausitz military training area opened its Tor tor to thousands of visitors for the Open Day at the Oberlausitz military training area to give them an insight behind the scenes of the Bundeswehr in Saxony. The soldiers presented a wide range of large and small equipment and gave an impressive demonstration of what they are capable of. Vertical take-off drone with a wingspan of 4 metres, Open Day at the Oberlausitz military training area, Weißkeißel, Saxony, Germany, Europe

Attendees pose for a group photo Oct. 15 during the Air Force Materiel Command International Ball in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. This years theme was Year of the International Partner An Evening of Intrigue.

German police officer in the departure terminal of the Airport, Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, Europe

DF-ST-85-11964. Base: Wallace Air Station Country: Philippines (PHL)

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