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An instructor pilot in an F-35 Lightning II flies overhead to watch Col. Charles Wallace II, 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 Academic Training Center director and F-35 pilot, perform a touch-and-go during his first sortie in the aircraft on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Dec. 5, 2014. The ATC mission is to train Air Force, Marine, Navy and international partner operators and maintainers of the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)
Airman 1st Class Johnny Patterson, 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron F-35 Lightning II crew chief, guides Col. Charles Wallace II, 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 Academic Training Center director and F-35 pilot, after completing his first sortie in the aircraft on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Dec. 5, 2014. Patterson was in the first class of pipeline students qualified as F-35 Lightning II crew chiefs. While other crew chiefs on the flight line cross-trained from fourth-generation weapon systems, Patterson’s class has only ever worked with the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)
Col. Charles Wallace II, 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 Lightning II Academic Training Center director and F-35 pilot, prepares to power down after returning from his first sortie in the aircraft on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Dec. 5, 2014. The ATC mission is to train Air Force, Marine, Navy and international partner operators and maintainers of the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)
Col. Charles Wallace II, 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 Lightning II Academic Training Center director and F-35 pilot, removes his helmet after completing his first sortie in the aircraft on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Dec. 5, 2014. The ATC mission is to train Air Force, Marine, Navy and international partner operators and maintainers of the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)
Airman 1st Class Johnny Patterson, left, 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron F-35 Lightning II crew chief, talks to Col. Charles Wallace II, 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 Academic Training Center director and F-35 pilot, after completing his first sortie in the aircraft on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Dec. 5, 2014. Patterson was in the first class of pipeline students qualified as F-35 Lightning II crew chiefs. While other crew chiefs on the flight line cross-trained from fourth-generation weapon systems, Patterson’s class has only ever worked with the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)