F-15 Strike Eagle

A crew chief from the 159th Air National Guard, LA maintenance crew preflights a F-15 fighter jet on Oct. 23, 2002 for Exercise Cope Snapper 2002. Held at NAS Key West Florida, Exercise Cope Snapper 02 is a multi-aircraft exercise that engages dissimilar air combat training with on fighter data link and joint operations with the Navy. The members involved in Cope Snapper consist of the 159th Fighter Wing's, Louisiana F-15 fighters, the 169th McEntire, SC Air National Guard's F-16 fighter jets, maintenance crews, and the Navy's F-18s and F-14 fighter jets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock)

An F-15C from the 67th Fighter Squadron refuels in flight from a KC-135R, from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, June 28, 2001, while on a routine training mission over the Pacific ocean. Both units are stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Marvice Krause)

OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN -- An F-15C from the 67th Fighter Squadron prepares to refuel in flight from a KC-135R, from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, June 28, 2001, while on a routine training mission over the Pacific ocean. Both units are stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Marvice Krause)

 A pair of F-15E Strike Eagles, fly over the pyramids. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Scott McKeever)

A row of F-15s sits on the ramp here. The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. The single-seat F-15C and two-seat F-15D models entered the Air Force inventory beginning in 1979. (U.S. Air Force photo)

A crew chief from the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron prepares an F-15E Strike Eagle for a mission at a forward-deployed location on March 21, 2003. The Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson A.F.B., are deployed in support of current operations in the Middle East. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Derrick C. Goode)

336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron maintainers work on a F-15E Strike Eagle. The 336th EFS is deployed to a location supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The maintanence crews work around the clock to ensure every aircraft is ready for the next mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Donovan)

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- A Japanese air self-defense force F-15J takes off for a familiarization training mission here May 30. The Japanese are in Alaska for Cooperative Cope Thunder, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored air-combat training exercise set for June 5 to 20. Cope Thunder represents the first time the Japanese have deployed F-15 aircraft to North America for an exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown)

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- An F-15E Strike Eagle waits at the end of the runway here before taking off for a deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William Greer)

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Seventy-five F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., are waiting out Hurricane Isabel on a runway here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eddie Edge)

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Master Sgt. Scott Lemak (left) guides a vehicle operator as Senior Airman Nicholas Surita (center) and Staff Sgt. Maurice Williams help remove an M-61A1 gun from an F-15E Strike Eagle. The airmen are deployed from the 494th Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. Lemak is a weapons flight chief, Surita is a weapons loader, and Williams is a weapons-load team chief. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William J. Sharp)

LMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- An F-15 Eagle from the 12th Fighter Squadron here prepares to taxi out for a real world deployment Oct. 26. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Adrian Cadiz)

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 391st Fighter Squadron here, takes off for an early morning sortie during an Operational Readiness Inspection on Oct. 17. The 366th FW was evaluated on how well it responded to crisis, employed forces, provided mission support and survived and operated in hostile environments. ORIs are conducted to evaluate the ability of units with a wartime or contingency mission to conduct assigned operational missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis)

B-52 Stratofortress Strategic Bomber

ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England -- Three B-52 Stratofortresses from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., taxi to the runway here. The B-52s are forward deployed to RAF Fairford to support NATO Operation Allied Force. The B-52s have been launching missiles in support of allied NATO air strikes. Air Combat Command's B-52 is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. (U.S. Air Force photo)

DIEGO GARCIA, British Indian Island Territory -- A B-52H Stratofortress from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., deployed to the 2nd Air Expeditionary Group, Naval Station Diego Garcia, drops away after air refueling. The 96th Bomb Squadron and support personnel from the 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, are deployed in support of Desert Thunder. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sarah E. Shaw)

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- A B-52 Stratofortress receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Indian Ocean. The KC-135 crew is from the 931st Air Refueling Group at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., and is deployed to the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby)

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Capt. Jason McNutt maneuvers his B-52 Stratofortress into position beneath a KC-135 Stratotanker for aerial refueling. The B-52 bomber crew from the 40th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron dropped 45 500-pound bombs on targets in Iraq on April 4. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard Freeland)

ANDERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- A B-52 Stratofortress deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La. lands here April 2, 2003. Aircraft and personnel are deplyed here in support of the 7th Air Expeditionary Wing's mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christina M. Rumsey)

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- B-52 Stratofortress bombers surge from the flightline here in response to an exercise Oct. 31, despite a winter storm that passed through the area. The storm reduced temperatures to 26 degrees, and dropped six inches of snow. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brandy Turner)

OVER NEVADA -- A B-52H Stratofortress drops a load of M-117 750-pound bombs during a training run here. During Desert Storm, B-52s delivered 40 percent of all the weapons dropped by coalition forces. The first Gulf War saw the longest strike mission in the history of aerial warfare when B-52s took off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., launched conventional air-launched cruise missiles and returned to Barksdale -- a 35-hour, non-stop combat mission. (U.S. Air Force photo)

1950's -- B-52

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Capt. Jeremiah Baldwin (left), a pilot, and 1st Lt Bentley Brooks, a co-pilot, conduct a preflight check in their B-52 Stratofortress here. Six B-52s and about 300 support people from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., are the first to deploy here following the decision to station a rotating bomber force here. Both Airmen are from the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN -- NASA's B-52B launch aircraft cruises to a test range here carrying an X-43A hypersonic research aircraft attached to a Pegasus rocket Nov. 16. It was taken to launch altitude by the aircraft from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. About an hour later the Pegasus booster was released from the B-52 to accelerate the X-43A to its intended speed of Mach 10. (National Aeronautics and Space Administration photo by Carla Thomas)

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFPN) -- Munitions on display show the full capabilities of the B-52 Stratofortress. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Robert J. Horstman)

A B-52 Stratofortress takes off Wednesday, April 13, 2006, from a forward operating location in Southwest Asia. The B-52s are seeing increased operations tempo while providing close-air support for Operation Mountain Lion. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer)

A B-52 Stratofortress is on its way to a combat mission over Afghanistan. The B-52s provide close-air support for U.S. and coalition forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer)

A B-52 Stratofortress deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, stands ready Feb. 12 for its next mission. Bombers deployed from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La., provide a continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Don Perrien)

A row of B-52 Stratofortresses from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Minot AFB, N.D., await their next mission on the flightline Feb. 1 at Andersen AFB, Guam. The different colored tail markings represent the individual squadrons each bomber is assigned to at their home station. Approximately 300 Airmen from Barksdale AFB arrived on Guam recently as part of a scheduled rotation of bomber units into the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Don Perrien)

A B-52 Stratofortress leads a formation of Air Force and Navy F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Eagles, and F-18 Hornetst over the USS Kitty Hawk, USS Nimitz and USS John C. Stennis Strike Groups during Exercise Valiant Shield exercise Aug.14 in the Pacific. The forces participated in Valiant Shield, the largest joint exercise in the Pacific this year. Held in the Guam operating area, the exercise includes 30 ships, more than 280 aircraft and more than 20,000 servicemembers from the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 2nd Class Jarod Hodge)

Air Force fighters, bombers, tankers and air control aircraft occupy the flightline at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The aircraft, deployed from several Air Force bases, are here to promote regional security and stability in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1St Class Cory Todd)

A B-52 Stratofortress flies a routine mission Nov. 12 over the Pacific Ocean. The B-52 is deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Andersen AFB, Guam, and is part of a continuing operation of maintaining a bomber presence in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald)

A B-52 Stratofortress flies April 20, 2011, during an eight-hour sortie to practice bomb-dropping sequences and aerial refueling. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

A B-52 Stratofortress lands at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., June 30, 2011, after a sortie. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael J. Veloz)

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 flies at more than three times the speed of sound at altitudes in excess of 80,000 feet (approximately 15 miles high); for example, three times the speed of sound (Mach 3) is more than 2,000 miles per hour. Congress appropriated funds and directed the Air Force to recommission a small fleet of SR-71s, two A models and one B model. The aircraft were assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing's Detachment 2 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., before retirement. (U.S. Air Force photo)

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An air-to-air overhead front view of an SR-71A strategic reconnaissance aircraft. The SR-71, unofficially known as the "Blackbird," is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft. The U.S. Air Force retired its fleet of SR-71s on Jan. 26, 1990, but returned them in 1995 until January 1997. Throughout its nearly 24-year career, the SR-71 remained the world's fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael Haggerty)

Freezing rain encased the upper half of an SR-71 Blackbird and formed icicles along the leading and trailing edge of the static display aircraft Jan. 16 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

The SR-71 lands with drag chute at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo)

This photo shows a head-on view of NASA's SR-71B, used for pilot proficiency and training, on the ramp at the Air Force's Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, shortly before delivery to the Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility (later, Dryden Flight Research Center) at Edwards, California. NASA operated two of these unique aircraft, an SR-71A, for high-speed, high altitude research, and this SR- 71B pilot trainer for most of the decade of the 1990s. The "B" model is special because of its raised rear cockpit, which provided a second pilot position so a trainer and an experienced pilot could both see what was going on during flights. Image courtesy of NASA.

NASA’s SR-71 streaks into the twilight with full afterburner on the first night/science flight from the Dryden Flight Research Facility, Mar. 9, 1993. Onboard were research pilot Steve Ishmael and flight engineer Marta Bohn-Meyer.

The original trio of SR-71 "Blackbirds" loaned to NASA by the U.S. Air Force for high-speed, high-altitude research line the ramp at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The three former reconnaissance aircraft, two SR-71 "A" models and one "B" model, can fly more than 2200 mph and at altitudes of over 80,000 feet.

Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon (General Dynamics)

SIDI SLIMANE AIR BASE -- F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, arrived here, in support of Exercise African Eagle. African Eagle is a bi-annual exercise designed to practice dissimilar air to air training with the Royal Moroccan air force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Delia A. Castillo)

 Two F-16s from Aviano Air Base, Italy, drop away from the fuel boom after gassing up from a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Adriatic Sea. The jets were refueled by the New Jersey Air National Guard's 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. The 108th ARW is part of the 16th Expeditionary Operations Group, a small U.S. Air Force detachment located on this French air base. The 16th Expeditionary Operations Group is a unit of the 16th Air Expeditionary Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dave Ahlschwede)

A formation F-16C Fighting Falcons on a flight from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., to Atlantic City International Airport, N.J. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Don Taggart)

F-16 Falcon over the pyramids at Giza, Egypt

An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off on a mission supporting NATO's Operation Allied Force. The F-16 is deployed from the 78th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jeffrey Allen)

An F-16CJ based here appears to be flying towards a rising moon during late afternoon in March. The aircraft is being flown by Capt. Randy Efferson, 9th Air Force F-16 "Viper" Demonstration pilot. The F-16 is assigned to the 78th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Greg L. Davis)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, flys a Combat Air Patrol mission May 3, 1999. Planes flying the CAP missions provide air cover for NATO Operation Allied Force strike missions in Yuglslavia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jeffrey Allen)

 A New Mexico Air National Guard F-16C Fighting Falcon taxis out for an Operation Southern Watch patrol mission. The 188th Fighter Squadon recently joined their active duty counterparts from the 523rd Fighter Squadron, 27th Fighter Wing, to support air operations over the No-Fly, No-Drive Zone in Southern Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Greg Davis)

Tech. Sgt Daniel Gilbert, an F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief, checks the underside of an F-16 launching at a forward deployed air base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Terry L. Blevins)

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Crew chiefs prep F-16 Fighting Falcons for Operation Iraqi Freedom night misisons at a forward-deployed air base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt Terry L. Blevins)

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Thomas Seymour, an F-16C Fighting Falcon pilot assigned to the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron here, fires an AGM-88 high-speed antiradiation missile at a target during a March 24 test mission. The HARM is an air-to-surface missile designed to seek and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems. The F-16 is the only aircraft in the Air Force capable of using the HARM. (U. S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael Ammons)

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon prepares for take off on an operational sortie at a forward-deployed location March 29. According to a defense official, coalition air forces are averaging about 1,000 sorties a night after the first week of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Air Force has also dropped more than 5,000 precision-guided munitions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

Spangdahlem F-16s fly observation formation off the wing of a KC-10. KC-10 Extenders from the 305th/514th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire AFB, N.J., are deployed to Burgas Airport and nearby Camp Sarafovo, Bulgaria, to support tanker operations. Members from various Air Force units world-wide are currently deployed with the 409th AEG in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dave Ahlschwede)

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Two F-16CJ Fighting Falcons from the 55th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron taxi here for the last time April 7. The fighters are returning home to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., after supporting Operation Northern Watch for several years. Aircraft flew their last ONW mission March 17. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Thompson)

SIOUX FALLS S.D. -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds sits on the tarmac at Joe Foss Field, S.D. The premier Air Force aerial demonstration team performed in an air show for 40,000 specatators the following day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Frye)

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A NATO Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft flies with three F-16 Fighting Falcons during a recent test mission . The AWACS was here to conduct airborne interoperability testing on the Link-16, part of the F-16 Mid-Life Upgrade test program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tom Reynolds)

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM -- A KC-10A Extender, deployed to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, refuels a Danish air force F-16 over Afghanistan. The F-16, operating from Ganci Air Base in the Kyrgyz Republic, is providing close air support to collation ground forces. The KC-10A’s home base is McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rachel Bush)

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Capt. Christopher Stricklin ejects from the USAF Thunderbirds number six aircraft less than a second before it impacted the ground at an air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Sept. 14. Stricklin, who was not injured, ejected after both guiding the jet away from the crowd of more than 60,000 people and ensuring he couldn't save the aircraft. This was only the second crash since the Air Force began using F-16 Falcons for its demonstration team in 1982. The ACES II ejection seat performed flawlessly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

OVER IRAQ -- A pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons launch flares during a mission Aug. 18. The aircraft are assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and deployed from the New Mexico Air National Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Scott Reed)