F-15 Eagles

SOUTHWEST ASIA - An F-15 Eagle taxis prior to refueling on the flightline March 2, 2012. Hot pit refueling is conducted to fuel aircraft while they are still running to reduce ground time and get aircraft back up in the air as soon as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Arian Nead)

F-15 Eagles

SOUTHWEST ASIA - An F-15 Eagle taxis prior to refueling on the flightline March 2, 2012. Hot pit refueling is conducted to fuel aircraft while they are still running to reduce ground time and get aircraft back up in the air as soon as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Arian Nead)

Hot pits

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Airmen at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing refuel an F-15 Eagle between sorties using hot pits. Fuels specialists partner with weapons and maintenance experts to top off the tanks, all while the pilot keeps one of the engines running. The process means pilots can take to the air faster, saving maintainers the 90 minutes it would take to prepare another jet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)

F-15 Eagles

SOUTHWEST ASIA - An F-15 Eagle taxis prior to refueling on the flightline March 2, 2012. Hot pit refueling is conducted to fuel aircraft while they are still running to reduce ground time and get aircraft back up in the air as soon as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Arian Nead)

AWACS

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Annie Coney, Senior Airman Jeremiah Snyder and Airman 1st Class Madelyn Kirin, E-3 Sentry (AWACS) airborne sensor operators with the 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, monitor aircraft over Afghanistan, Feb. 29, 2012. The mission of the 964th EAACS is to provide an accurate, real-time picture of the battlespace to the Joint Air Operations Center. The E-3 Sentry crew also provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile activity, command and control of an area of responsibility, battle management of theater forces, all-altitude and all-weather surveillance of the battle space, and early warning of enemy actions during joint, allied, and coalition operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg C. Biondo)(Released)

AWACS

Capt. Mitchell Hudson, a E-3 Sentry (AWACS) navigator with the 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, monitors flight plans over Afghanistan, Feb. 29, 2012. The mission of the 964th EAACS is to provide an accurate, real-time picture of the battlespace to the Joint Air Operations Center. The E-3 Sentry crew also provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile activity, command and control of an area of responsibility, battle management of theater forces, all-altitude and all-weather surveillance of the battle space, and early warning of enemy actions during joint, allied, and coalition operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg C. Biondo)(Released)