aviation

A collection of NASA’s research aircraft on the ramp at the Dryden Flight Research Center in July 1997: X-31, F-15 ACTIVE, SR-71, F-106, F-16XL Ship #2, X-38, Radio Controlled Mothership and X-36. July 16, 1997   NASA Photo / Tony Landis

A U-2 Dragon Lady takes off as a chase car driver watches the successful launch Dec. 19, 2017, at Beale Air Force Base, California. Due to a limited range of view, the chase car driver’s job is to communicate and assist the pilot as they take off and land.   U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior […]

A U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon sits in the 20th Maintenance Group weapons standardization hangar prior to a monthly qualification load at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Jan. 10, 2019. Load crews across the 55th, 77th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units are required to perform monthly qualifications to remain proficient in various munitions.   […]

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jacob Impellizzeri, the Pacific Air Forces’ F-16 Fighting Falcon Demonstration Team commander, performs during the Tsuiki Air Festival at Tsuiki Air Base, Japan, Nov. 25, 2018. Impellizzeri executed 17 maneuvers during the 20-minute display of the F-16’s capabilities.   U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Xiomara M. Martinez

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet peels away from a 28th Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker after refueling during a mission in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel over Afghanistan, Dec. 14, 2018. The Super Hornet is deployed to highlight the mobility, flexibility and power projection capabilities of the U.S. Navy.   U.S. Air Force […]

U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Ashley Crescimanno, from Albany, New York, directs an F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97, on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 17, 2019, during exercise Intrepid Sentinel. Intrepid Sentinel brings together […]

LEMOORE, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2018) An F-35C Lightning II, attached to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore, fly in formation for a photo exercise. VFA-147 is the first U.S. Navy Operational F-35C squadron based out of NAS Lemoore. Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing, headquartered at Naval Air […]

A Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 Raptor receives feel from a Wisconsin Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker Dec. 11, 2018, near the Hawaiian Islands. Sentry Aloha provides tailored, cost effective and realistic combat training for U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and other Department of Defense services to provide U.S. warfighters with the skill sets […]

An F-15C Eagle flies during routine training Dec. 11, 2018, out of Kadena Air Base, Japan. Both the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons at Kadena AB play a unique role in securing peace and stability in a free and open Indo-Pacific with their F-15C/D capabilities.   U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew […]

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a demonstration during the Mather Airshow at Mather Airport, Sacramento, California, Sept. 23, 2018. The U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron or “Thunderbirds” were created in 1953.   U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Parsons/Released

U.S. Air Force Maj. John Waters, F-16 Viper Demonstration Team (VDT) pilot and commander, navigates an F-16CM Fighting Falcon, “Viper,” during a demonstration at Sakhir Airbase, Kingdom of Bahrain, Nov. 14, 2018. Waters demonstrated the flying capabilities of the F-16 before an international crowd at the Bahrain International Air Show in support of U.S. Air […]

Four U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., conduct aerial refueling over the continental United States, Aug. 21, 2018, during the Northern Lightning 18-2 exercise. Northern Lightning is one of seven Air National Guard joint accredited exercises held at a Combat […]