U.S Airforce December 2012 Update

Airman 1st Class Bill Bossinger tightens wiring underneath an F-15 Eagle during the mission employment phase exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Dec. 7, 2012. Bossinger is an electrical and environmental systems journeyman assigned to the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)

Active-duty and Reserve F-22 Raptor pilots from the 90thFighter Squadron and 302nd FS returned home after a deployment from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Nov. 30, 2012. The F-22s were supporting Pacific Command’s Theater Security Package. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)

Hot pit stop

An F-16 Fighting Falcon moves rapidly as fuels operators and crew chiefs execute a technique called hot pit refueling at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Nov. 9, 2012. Hot pit refueling is a procedure usually performed in a combat situation to rapidly refuel aircraft while their engines are running resulting in a speedy refuel to thrust pilots right back into the fight. Airmen assigned to the 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron practice this technique to keep their skills sharp and aid in the effort to provide combat ready air power at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kenny Holston)

Fly over
A C-5 Galaxy flies over Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass., Nov. 11, 2012. The fly over was prior to the Patriots kick off with an estimated crowd of more than 68,000. The aircraft is from the "the Patriot Wing" at Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kelly Galloway)

Blue skies
A C-130 Hercules soars during takeoff Nov. 14, 2012, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Team Little Rock is the home of C-130 Combat Airlift and home to the world’s largest C-130 fleet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Rusty Frank)

Recon
An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft soars over Nevada after a refueling mission during exercise Green Flag-West 13-02 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 1, 2012. The aircraft is assigned to the 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis)

Under the stars
A C-130J Hercules assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., performs an engine-running offload at Geronimo Landing Zone on Fort Polk, La., Oct 17, 2012.  The aircraft provided resupply to a major Joint Readiness Training Center exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres)

U.S Navy December 2012

121207-O-GR159-001 PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (Dec. 7, 2012) Maj. C. R. Clift, a Marine Corps test pilot, flies BF-1, an F-35B Lightning II, on a short take off and vertical landing mode mission. The flight marked the 1000th developmental test flight for the F-35B Lightning II in the program's program's system development and demonstration phase. The F-35B is the variant of the Lightning II designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing flight test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., prior to delivery to the fleet. (Photo by Dane Wiedmann/Released)

121210-N-GC639-105 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 10, 2012) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) transits the Atlantic Ocean en route to homeport in Norfolk, Va. Dwight D. Eisenhower is returning from a deployment in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan D. McLearnon/Released)

121207-N-YX169-083 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Dec. 7, 2012) An F/A-18C Hornet from the Wildcats of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131 lands aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dwight D. Eisenhower is transiting to her homeport of Norfolk after operating in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathanael Miller/Released)

121209-O-ZZ999-001 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Corp. by Alan Radecki/ Released)

121209-N-ZZ999-003 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Corp. by Alan Radecki/ Released)

121205-N-YX169-098 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Dec. 5, 2012) An EA-6B Prowler from the Patriots of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140 launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dwight D. Eisenhower is transiting to homeport in Norfolk, Va., after operating in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathanael Miller/Released)

121205-N-NB538-125 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Dec. 5, 2012) An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Jolly Rogers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dwight D. Eisenhower is transiting to homeport in Norfolk, Va. after operating in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sabrina Fine/Released)

121205-N-GC639-146 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Dec. 5, 2012) A plane director guides an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Wildcats of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131 to a catapult on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dwight D. Eisenhower is transiting to homeport in Norfolk, Va. after operating in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan D. McLearnon/Released)

121121-N-DO750-004 ARABIAN SEA (Nov. 21, 2012) Lt. Matt Reed, assigned to the Rampagers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, launches defensive flares during a flight from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). VFA-83 and Dwight D. Eisenhower are returning to Norfolk after operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Greg Linderman/Released)

121121-N-DO750-001 ARABIAN SEA (Nov. 21, 2012) Lt. Matt Reed, assigned to the Rampagers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, launches defensive flares during a flight from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). VFA-83 and Dwight D. Eisenhower are returning to Norfolk after operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Greg Linderman/Released)