Force Sky Tool

Monday, January 14, 2013

Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk

NEW MEXICO -- The F-117A Nighthawk Stealth fighter from the 49th Fighter Wing, 9th Fighter Squadron "Iron Knights," from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Flies a training mission over the New Mexico desert. The F-117 is the world's first operational aircraft designed to exploit low-observable stealth technology. The unique design of the single-seat F-117A provides exceptional combat capabilities. Air refuelable, it supports worldwide commitments and adds to the deterrent strength of the U.S. military forces. The F-117A can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems integrated into a state-of-the-art digital avionics suite that increases mission effectiveness and reduces pilot workload. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Andy Dunaway)

Two specially painted Stars and Banners F-117 Nighthawks fly on one of their last missions. The F-117s were retired March 11 in a farewell ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Kim Frey)

An F-117 Nighthawk taxis into position during the F-117 Nighthawk farewell ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, March 11. The ceremony consisted of mulitple guest speakers, a piece by the Air Force Band of Flight and concluded with a single ship flyover. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt Joshua Strang)

A B-2 Spirit bomber is followed by two F-117 Nighthawks during a mission. The B-2 is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. A dramatic leap forward in technology, the bomber represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program. The B-2 brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses. (U.S. Air Force photo)

A 37th Tactical Fighter Wing F-117A stealth fighter aircraft refuels from a 22nd Air Refueling Wing KC-10 Extender aircraft during Operation Desert Shield. The F-117A is en route to Saudi Arabia.

An F-117A aircraft from the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (37th TFW) moves in for a midair refueling during Operation Desert Shield.

F-117A Stealth fighter aircraft from the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, Tonopah Test Range, Nev., line the runway after arriving for an overnight stay while deploying to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Staff Sgt. Robin Walker (left) and Staff Sgt. Greg Slavik prepare an F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter to launch from here. Aircraft, aircrews, maintainers and support Airmen from around the globe are here during March to participate in Red Flag, an Air Force exercise that tests warfightering skills in real-time combat situations. This is the Department of Defense's first Joint Red Flag exercise, in which more than 10,000 servicemembers from all four military branches, along with troops of some coalition forces, will train in an effort to develop improved joint training and experimentation capabilities. Sergeants Walker and Slavik are crew chiefs assigned to the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald)

Twenty-five F-117 Nighthawks are lined up for take off from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The planes were part of a formation celebrating the Nighthawk's 25th anniversary and 250,000 flying hour here. The 25 planes were separated into 5 groups and flew over the base to close the celebration ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brian Ferguson)

Capt. Heath Armstrong (front) and 2nd Lt. Scott Panzer watch as a formation of F-117 Nighthawks pass overhead. The formation was part of the Nighthawk's 25th anniversary and 250,000 flying-hour celebration at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The formation consisted of 25 planes staggered into five separate groups. Captain Armstrong and Lieutenant Panzer are part of the 49th Operations Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brian Ferguson)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

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)

Monday, December 17, 2012

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)