By Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson, 33rd Fighter Wing / Published February 01, 2017
An F-35A assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing takes off January 31, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and shot the first air-to-air missiles from an operational F-35A during a weapons system evaluation that took place at Tyndall Air Force Base later the same day. Carrying air-to-air missiles makes the F-35 a more versatile option for combatant commanders by securing the aircraft's survivability, in turn increasing likeliness of mission success. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson)
A U.S. Air Force weapons load crew assigned to the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron loads a live AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) into an F-35A January 31, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and shot the first air-to-air missiles from an operational F-35A during a weapons system evaluation that took place at Tyndall Air Force Base later the same day. Carrying air-to-air missiles makes the F-35 a more versatile option for combatant commanders by securing the aircraft's survivability, in turn increasing likeliness of mission success. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. David Panzer, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief, secures a live AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) onto a weapons jammer before loading it into an F-35A January 31, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and shot the first air-to-air missiles from an operational F-35A during a weapons system evaluation that took place at Tyndall Air Force Base later the same day. Carrying air-to-air missiles makes the F-35 a more versatile option for combatant commanders by securing the aircraft's survivability, in turn increasing likeliness of mission success. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brody Bundy, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief, left, and Senior Airman Blake Baker, 33 AMXS weapons load crewmember, secure a live AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) onto a weapons jammer before loading it into an F-35A January 31, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and shot the first air-to-air missiles from an operational F-35A during a weapons system evaluation that took place at Tyndall Air Force Base later the same day. Carrying air-to-air missiles makes the F-35 a more versatile option for combatant commanders by securing the aircraft's survivability, in turn increasing likeliness of mission success. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson)
A U.S. Air Force weapons load crew assigned to the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron transports a live AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) before loading it into an F-35A January 31, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and shot the first air-to-air missiles from an operational F-35A during a weapons system evaluation that took place at Tyndall Air Force Base later the same day. Carrying air-to-air missiles makes the F-35 a more versatile option for combatant commanders by securing the aircraft's survivability, in turn increasing likeliness of mission success. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Dylan Snead, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, inspects an AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles after being loaded into an F-35A January 31, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and shot the first air-to-air missiles from an operational F-35A during a weapons system evaluation that took place at Tyndall Air Force Base later the same day. Carrying air-to-air missiles makes the F-35 a more versatile option for combatant commanders by securing the aircraft's survivability, in turn increasing likeliness of mission success. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson)