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Military Combat Aircraft Inspections

Images feature pilots inspecting combat aircraft on flight decks and taking aerial action, focusing on the meticulous care and readiness of military aviation.

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor is refueled by a KC-10A Extender.

AMN Robert White cleans a cockpit window on a 28th Bombardment Wing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft. Base: Mildenhall State: Suffolk Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

NASA/NAVAIR Marine AV-8B aircraft test-493 in 40x80ft. w.t.

A Wyoming Air National Guard C-130 aircraft is off loaded by Implementation Forces (IFOR) soldiers deployed to Tuzla air base in Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. Subject Operation/Series: JOINT ENDEAVOR Base: Tuzla Air Base Country: Bosnia And/I Herzegovina (BIH)

August 15, 2013 - Maintainers from the 8th Fighter Wing prepare F-16 Fighting Falcons for training flights at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.

DN-SC-86-03946. Base: USS Coral Sea (CV 43) Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

DF-ST-89-00905. Subject Operation/Series: SHADOW HAWK Base: Al Jafr Country: Jordan (JOR)

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor takes off during the 2022 Kaneohe Bay Air Show, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 13, 2022. The air show provided an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of a Joint Force in the Indo-Pacific Region. The Kaneohe Bay Air Show, which contained aerial performances, static displays, demonstrations and vendors, was designed to express MCBHs appreciation to the residents of Hawaii and their continued support of the installation.

Dale Snodgrass, former F-14 Tomcat demo pilot and retired US Navy fighter wing commander delivers fast maneuvers in his F86 Sabre. The demonstration was featured at the Navy Lakehurst 2001 Airshow on June 2, 2001. State: New Jersey (NJ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An AV-8B Harrier from the Fixed Wing Marine Attack Squadron 211 performs aircraft carrier launch procedures on a temporary pre-fabricated runway at Auxiliary Airfield-2. Base: Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040713-F-5098W-002. Subject Operation/Series: MAJESTIC EAGLE 2004 Base: Moran Air Base Country: Spain (ESP)

Four M-551 Sheridan light tanks are dropped from the rear of a 436th Military Airlift Squadron C-5B Galaxy aircraft as a second Galaxy aircraft drops pallets of equipment. The U.S. Air Force Airlift Center is conducting tests to certify the airdrop, formation-flying and low-level flight capabilities of Galaxy aircraft. Earlier tests were suspended in 1973 when wing-strength problems were discovered in Galaxy aircraft. Base: Fort Bragg State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 are arranged 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.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with the 77th Fighter Squadron adjusts in his cockpit before takeoff, Oct. 5, 2011, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Crew chiefs with the 77th FS launched several F-16s to help pilots prepare for real world missions.

DF-ST-85-12615. Subject Operation/Series: NIGHT TRAIN/GLOBAL SHIELD '84 Base: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-86-07285. Base: San Francisco State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Three Royal Bahraini Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons escort a U.S. Air Force 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress over the Persian Gulf in support of a Bomber Task Force mission, Sep. 4, 2022. The two B-52s deployed for this BTF mission departed from RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, and flew nonstop over the East Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula, and Red Sea before returning to RAF Fairford.

An HC-130 King becomes engulfed in a cloud of dust from a helicopter April 16, 2010, near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, during Angel Thunder 2010. The HC-130 is assigned to the 39th Rescue Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)

Lance Corporal (LCPL) Kathryn M. Heezen stands guard in front of Marine One, a VH-3/D Sea King helicopter from Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 (HMX-1). She is a member of the presidential security guard. Base: Quantico State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Nose art painted on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft of the 1701st Air Refueling Wing during Operation Desert Storm.. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Unknown

Miscellaneous - Katrina and Rita - 26-HK-431-58. Hurricane Katrina

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (July 22, 2022) U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Kyle Christensen, an aircraft avionics technician with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares an AH-1 Super Cobra to participate in a sinking exercise (SINKEX) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, July 22. RIMPAC military forces fired upon and sunk the decommissioned ex-USS Denver (LPD 9), during a SINKEX to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against a surface target at sea. SINKEX vessels are put through a certified cleaning process, including removing all environmentally harmful material including trash, floatable material, mercury, fluorocarbon and petroleum. 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 Cal

F-16 Fighting Falcon US Air Force

A member of the 42nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit signals to the pilot of a 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111E aircraft that is taxiing to launch position during the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) exercise Display Determination '89. Subject Operation/Series: DISPLAY DETERMINATION '89 Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

030318-F-9528H-029. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown

DF-ST-85-09809. Subject Operation/Series: OCEAN VENTURE '84 Base: Nas, Roosevelt Roads State: Puerto Rico (PR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

070128-N-3729H-054. Base: USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

A view of the nose of an F-14 Tomcat aircraft with shark's teeth and eyes painted on it to symbolize Carrier Air Wing 15 (CVW-15), based aboard the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63). The F-14 is being used in exercise Gallant Eagle '82. Subject Operation/Series: GALLANT EAGLE '82 Base: Naval Air Station, Miramar State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron prepares to taxi an F-15D Eagle during RED FLAG-Alaska at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 15, 2022. RED FLAG-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces directed field training exercise for U.S. and international forces flown under simulated air combat conditions primarily out of Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

A Soviet technician works atop the rear section of a Soviet MiG-29 aircraft that is refueling at Elmendorf en route to an air show in British Columbia. Base: Elmendorf Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Port beam view of a Soviet Modified Kashin class guided missile destroyer underway, as seen from a P-3 Orion aircraft. This ship is part of a Soviet surface action group on maneuvers. Country: Caribbean Sea

Aerial view of a Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on the flight line.

Fighter planes exploding in the sky

A fighter spacecraft blasts a large enemy battleship with a laser beam.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Rob Donnelly from the 380th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conducts pre-flight checks on an EQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle before its first launch from an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 27, 2010. The EQ-4 carries the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN), which acts as a persistent gateway, bridging diverse tactical data links and voice communications to improve battlefield communications.

DF-ST-85-02928. Country: United States Of America (USA)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the conclusion of Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities, the STS-107 crew returns to Houston. In the cockpit of the T-38 jet trainer is Pilot William "Willie" McCool. Reflected in his helmet is another T-38 with other crew members. The launch of mission STS-107 is planned for Jan. 16, 2003, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. EST aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. A mission devoted to research, STS-107 will include more than 80 experiments that will study Earth and space science, advanced technology development, and astronaut health and safety. Photo by: astronaut Willie McCool

A composite photograph showing a sailor aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) framed by the tail of an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft as he watches a sunset at sea. Country: Unknown

A right side view of an OV-10 Bronco aircraft from the 601st Tactical Air Support Group, Sembach Air Base, West Germany, in flight during Exercise Reforger '81. Subject Operation/Series: REFORGER '81 Base: Hanau Army Air Field Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

DF-ST-89-09899. Base: Robins Air Force Base State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SC-89-11085. Country: Japan (JPN)

Airman 1st Class Rebekka Bloser, a 157th Air Refueling Wing structural aircraft maintenance Airmen, carefully removes paint masking from the Spirit of Portsmouth, a KC-46A which had just received a new custom paint job, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 29, 2022.. The patriotic paint was added to showcase the wing's National Guard heritage and rich history in the state of New Hampshire and honors both the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force and the 400th anniversary of the founding of Portsmouth.

Denmark, Langeland, Bagenkop, Langelandsfort Cold War Museum, Cold war artifacts at former NATO base, Danish submarine, exterior

180221-N-MT837-0100 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 21, 2018) Sailors participate in flight operations on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson Strike Group is currently operating in the Western Pacific as part of a regularly scheduled deployment.

020429-F-4728F-005. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

F/A-18C Hornet USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) US Navy

An newly dedicated F-16 fighter jet bearing the name of Brig. Gen. Shannon D. Smith sits in a hangar as a static display at the 113th Wing change of command ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, July 15, 2022. Smith assumed command of the unit in the ceremony.

USA, South Dakota, Pierre, South Dakota National Guard Museum

DF-ST-88-08317. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040521-F-2295B-008. Base: Langley Air Force Base State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

AMN Apprentice Leonardo Salcedo signals to the pilot of an E-2C Hawkeye. USS GEORGE WASHINTON (CVN 73) is conducting operations in the Persian Gulf in support of UN sanctions against Iraq under operation Southern Watch. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Base: USS George Washington (CVN 73) Country: At Sea

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 - 26-HK-334-23. Hurricane Katrina

Artwork: "B-1, Edwards Air Force Base" Artist: Deanna Glad. Country: Unknown

DF-ST-85-05753. Base: Palmdale State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

star on brushed metal. great star on brushed metal as on military aircraft

980416-F-4116M-007. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH 1998 Base: Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base State: Al Ahmadi Country: Kuwait (KWT) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

The 412th Test Wing unveiled two F-16s assigned to the 416th Flight Test Squadron adorned with special tail flashes to celebrate the Fighting Falcon's 50 years of service.

Nose art decorates a KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft. Base: Ellsworth Air Force Base State: South Dakota (SD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Senior Airman Caleb Spencer, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team engines specialist, washes an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 6, 2022. Spencer is the sole engine troop assigned to the team and is responsible for all engine maintenance for the teams three dedicated aircraft.

Tail flash of a KG-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, U. K., on the flightline at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N. C., during RODEO 92. Subject Operation/Series: RODEO 92 Base: Pope Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Conner Schneider Munn, 80th Fighter Generation Squadron pilot, prepares for takeoff in an F-16 Fighting Falcon during RED FLAG-Alaska 22-3 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, August 1, 2022. RF-A 22-3 offers U.S. and allied service personnel and aircraft the opportunity to leverage forces in support of bilateral or multilateral exercises.

020710-F-3838S-010. Base: Spangdahlem Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryston Archuleta, 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron crew chief, performs final inspections on an F-22 Raptor before take-off from Ørland Main Air Station, Norway, Sept. 14, 2022. The 90 EFS forward deployed to Norway to conduct an agile combat employment (ACE) exercise with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and NATO Allies and partners. The joint training and integration provided in this ACE exercise improves the resilience and survivability of coalition airpower.

A close-up view of the artwork on the nose of a 19th Aerial Refueling Wing (19th AREFW) KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft known as "Swamp Witch." The 19th AREFW, which is based at Robins Air Force Base (AFB), Georgia, has deployed several of its aircraft to Whiteman AFB for exercise Mighty Warrior '89. Subject Operation/Series: MIGHTY WARRIOR '89 Base: Whiteman Air Force Base State: Missouri (MO) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Artwork painted on the side of a B-29 Superfortress of the U.S. Air Force.

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