33rd AMXS Airman conducts hot pit refueling on F-35

Senior Airman Max Todd, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, closes the maintenance interface panel after a hot pit refueling at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 13, 2016. A hot pit refuel allows aircraft to quickly launch after refueling and is a common practice across the Air Force, especially during wartime. The F-35A Lightning II can hold close to 17,000 pounds of fuel in its tank, this practice gets the aircraft refueled in as few as 20 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

33rd AMXS Airman conducts hot pit refueling on F-35

Senior Airman Max Todd, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, speaks to an F-35A Lightning II pilot over the radio during a hot pit refueling at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 13, 2016. While refueling, maintenance Airmen communicate with pilots to gauge how much fuel is loaded into the jet. A hot pit refuel allows aircraft to quickly re-launch for a sortie by fueling with the engine running. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

33rd AMXS Airman conducts hot pit refueling on F-35

Senior Airman Max Todd, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs a hot pit refuel on an F-35A Lightning II at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 13, 2016. This type of aircraft refueling is done while the engine is running to get jets back in the air more quickly and is a common practice during wartime. Crew chiefs from the 33rd Fighter Wing perform this type of refueling at least once a week to keep maintenance Airmen up-to-date on training and qualifications. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

33rd AMXS Airman conducts hot pit refueling on F-35

Senior Airman Max Todd, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, signals a successful hook-up during the hot pit refueling of an F-35A Lightning II at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 13, 2016. The engines are left running during this type of refueling so pilots are able to return to the air quickly. It can take as little as 20 minutes for a crew chief to fill the nearly 17,000 pound fuel tank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

33rd AMXS Airman conducts hot pit refueling on F-35

An F-35A Lightning II taxis up to a fuel tank for hot pit refueling at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 13, 2016. This type of aircraft refueling is done while the engine is running to get jets back in the air more quickly and is a common practice during wartime. The alternative is to taxi the aircraft back to the sunshade, shut down, refuel, and re-start the aircraft. Hot pit refueling allows the 58th Fighter Squadron to maximize time flying the fifth-generation jet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

33rd AMXS Airman performs hot pit refuel on F-35A

Published June 8, 2016
By Senior Airman Andrea Posey
33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

6/8/2016 – EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – -- Senior Airman Max Todd, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, closes the maintenance interface panel after a hot pit refueling at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 13, 2016. A hot pit refuel allows aircraft to quickly launch after refueling and is a common practice across the Air Force, especially during wartime. The F-35A Lightning II can hold close to 17,000 pounds of fuel in its tank, this practice gets the aircraft refueled in as few as 20 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Posey)