U.S. opens Berlin Airlift Show with "Spirit"

Chief Master Sgt. Evelyn Irwin and Col. Gary Cook discuss the C-17 Globemaster III's cargo load capabilities with members of a Chinese delegation visiting the Berlin Air Show May 16, 2006. The Chinese delegation included (from left center) Maj. Gen. Yue Xicui, Lt. Gen. Huang Xin and Maj. Zhang Dezhao. General Xicui is the Chinese Air Force's first female pilot and has more than 6,000 flying hours. Various models of U.S. military aircraft and about 60 support personnel from bases in Europe and the United States are attending the air show at Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport May 16-21. Chief Irwin and Colonel Cook are from the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Pamela A.Q. Cook)

U.S. opens Berlin Airlift Show with "Spirit"

Maj. James Dignan describes some of the features of the C-130J Hercules to Chinese Maj. Gen. Yue Xicui (left) and Maj. Zhang Dezhao on May 16, 2006 at the Berlin Air Show. General Xicui is the Chinese Air Force's first female pilot and has more than 6,000 flying hours. Various models of U.S. military aircraft and about 60 support personnel from bases in Europe and the United States are attending the air show at Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport May 16-21. Major Dignan is a pilot with the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Pamela A.Q. Cook)

C-17 in Berlin

BERLIN, Germany - "The Spirit of Berlin" C-17 Globemaster III lands May 16 after a flight demonstration at the Berlin Air Show. The C-17 from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and other Air Force and Army aircraft are attending the air show at Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport May 16-21. The Berlin Air Show is one of the premier events of its type in the world, and U.S. military participation contributes to a number of U.S. security and foreign policy interests. Participation promotes standardization and interoperability of equipment with our NATO allies and other potential coalition partners, highlights the strength of the U.S. commitment to the security of Europe and demonstrates that U.S. industry is producing equipment that will be critical to the success of current and future military operations. (Photo by Maj. Pamela A.Q. Cook, USAF)

Combat support flight

An Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules is readied for takeoff at Sather Air Base, Iraq, on Wednesday, April 19, 2006. The aircraft is from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)

Combat support flight

Capt. Fred Phelan uses the joystick controls of the APN214 navigation system to designate waypoints on a display screen on Wednesday, April 19, 2006, over Southwest Asia. When the aircraft is in autopilot mode, it can fly itself to the series of waypoints regardless of weather or other flight factors. Captain Phelan is a Reserve navigator deployed to the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is from the 327th Airlift Squadron at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)

Combat support flight

Maj. Mike Steigerwald (right) and Capt. Brady Ohr view the control panel on their C-130 Hercules and surrounding airspace during a combat support flight over Southwest Asia on Wednesday, April 19, 2006. The reservists are deployed to the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from the 327th Airlift Squadron at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)