PC-6

PC-6 over Switzerland. (Photo: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd)

PC-6

PC-6 Breitling over Switzerland. (Pilatus Aircraft Ltd)

PC-6

PC-6 'Goldeneye' over Switzerland. (Photo: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd)

Eurofighter Typhoon

SPAF Maintenance, BF, AF, QRA, pilot walkaround, in cockpit, loading weapons at Moron, Spain. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee)

Eurofighter Typhoon

Spanish Air Force single and two seater Eurofighter Typhoon from ALA-11 based in Moron, Spain. The aircrat are flying with drop tanks and IRIS-T missiles. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee)

Eurofighter Typhoon

Spanish Air Force single and two seater Eurofighter Typhoon from ALA-11 based in Moron, Spain. The aircrat are flying with drop tanks and IRIS-T missiles. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee)

Eurofighter Typhoon

Spanish Air Force single and two seater Eurofighter Typhoon from ALA-11 based in Moron, Spain. The aircrat are flying with drop tanks and IRIS-T missiles. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee)

Eurofighter Typhoon

Spanish Air Force single and two seater Eurofighter Typhoon from ALA-11 based in Moron, Spain. The aircrat are flying with drop tanks and IRIS-T missiles. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee)

Eurofighter Typhoon

Spanish Air Force single and two seater Eurofighter Typhoon from ALA-11 based in Moron, Spain. The aircrat are flying with drop tanks and IRIS-T missiles. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee)

Eurofighter Typhoon

Spanish Air Force single and two seater Eurofighter Typhoon from ALA-11 based in Moron, Spain. The aircrat are flying with drop tanks and IRIS-T missiles. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee)

Eurofighter Typhoon

Spanish Air Force single seat Eurofighter Typhoon taking off with afterburner from ALA-11 based in Moron. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee)

Eurofighter Typhoon

ITAF EF2000 12 Squadron taking off with afterburner at Gioia del Colle. 12 Squadron is the second front line ITAF Squadron operating Ejavascript:void(0)F2000. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee, Planefocus Ltd)

Eurofighter Typhoon

ITAF EF2000 12 Squadron taking off with afterburner at Gioia del Colle. 12 Squadron is the second front line ITAF Squadron operating EF2000. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee, Planefocus Ltd)

Eurofighter Typhoon

German Air Force single seat Eurofighter over Lithuania as part of Nato policing of the Baltic States. The aircraft is from JG-74 from Neuburg, Germany and has IRIS-T missiles and drop tank. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee, Planefocus Ltd)

Eurofighter Typhoon

RAF 3, 11, 17 and 29 Sqns from RAF Coningsby. They are based at RAF Coningsby and are in Typhoon formation for the Queen's Birthday flyby over London. (© Photograph by Geoffrey Lee)

RF-4C Phantom II

Left side view of an RF-4C Phantom II with auxiliary fuel tanks in flight August 1968. The aircraft was assigned to the 192nd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Nevada Air National Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo by SSgt Mark L. Comerford)

RF-4C Phantom II

An RF-4C Phantom II reconnaissance aircraft of the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing is parked at an airfield following a mission on the first day of Operation Desert Storm.

F-4E Phantom II

An air-to-air right side view of an 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E Phantom II aircraft releasing 18 Mark-82 500-pound bombs over the Bardenas Reales Gunnery Range. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Nolan)

F-4 Phantom II

An F-4 Phantom II practices Oct. 23, 2009, for the Southwest Open House at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The F-4 is assigned to the 82nd Aerial Targeting Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Flahive)

KC-135 Stratotanker

An Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron refuels a Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornado over Iraq using the multi-point refueling system. With MPRS, Air Force tankers have the versatility to refuel Air Force, Navy and coalition aircraft all in the same mission. On Feb. 26, Air Force, Royal Air Force and French tankers flew 34 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.2 million pounds of fuel. (Royal Air Force photo)

KC-135 Stratotanker

A KC-135 Stratotanker from Grand Forks Air Force Base N.D., refuels an F-22 Raptor from Edwards AFB, Calif. Jan. 18. A refueling team from Grand Forks will be the lead tanker unit at an upcoming Red Flag exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Darin Russell)

KC-135E Stratotanker

A KC-135E Stratotanker, flown by Maj. Paul Sheehan, aircraft commander, Capt. John Wahleithner, co-pilot, and Maj. Rob Mazzie, navigator during a Operation Noble Eagle training patrol March 16. The three airmen are from the 940th Aerial Refueling Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)

KC-135 Stratotanker

A KC-135 Stratotanker refuels an F-16 Fighting Falcon. Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche concluded testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Sept. 4. He answered questions about the 2004 Air Force Tanker Lease Proposal, which would replace ageing KC-135s with leased KC-767s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Mike Buytas)

KC-135 Stratotanker

The KC-135's principal mission is air refueling. This asset greatly enhances the U. S. Air Force's capability to accomplish its mission of Global Engagement. It also provides aerial refueling support to U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and allied aircraft. Four turbofans, mounted under 35-degree swept wings, power the KC-135. Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the tanker's flying boom, the KC-135's primary fuel transfer method. A special shuttlecock-shaped drogue, attached to and trailed behind the flying boom, may be used to refuel aircraft fitted with probes. An operator stationed in the rear of the plane controls the boom. (U.S. Air Force photo)

KC-135 Stratotanker

The KC-135 Stratotanker's primary mission is to refuel long-range bombers. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied aircraft. Four turbojets, mounted under wings swept 35 degrees, power the KC-135. Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the tanker's flying boom, the KC-135's primary fuel transfer method. A special shuttlecock-shaped drogue, attached to and trailed behind the flying boom, is used to refuel aircraft fitted with probes. An operator stationed in the rear of the plane controls the boom. A cargo deck above the refueling system holds passengers or cargo. Depending on fuel storage configuration, the KC-135 can carry up to 83,000 pounds (37,350 kilograms) of cargo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dave Nolan)

KC-135R Stratotanker

A KC-135R Stratotanker flies a training mission. The KC-135's principal mission is air refueling. This asset greatly enhances the U. S. Air Force's capability to accomplish its mission of Global Engagement. It also provides aerial refueling support to U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and allied aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo)

KC-135R Stratotanker

A KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, 91st Air Refueling Squadron, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., flies a training mission over central Florida. The KC-135's principal mission is air refueling. This asset greatly enhances the U. S. Air Force's capability to accomplish its mission of Global Engagement. It also provides aerial refueling support to U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and allied aircraft. Four turbofans, mounted under 35-degree swept wings, power the KC-135 to takeoffs at gross weights up to 322,500 pounds. Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the tanker's flying boom, the KC-135's primary fuel transfer method. A special shuttlecock-shaped drogue, attached to and trailed behind the flying boom, may be used to refuel aircraft fitted with probes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Keith Reed)

F-16C Fighting Falcon

A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon, flying in a two-aircraft formation, launches electronic countermeasure flares, following an aerial refueling mission over Iraq, Jan. 22, 2008. The aircraft are part of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing operating from Balad Air Base, Iraq. U.S. Central Command Air Forces. (Photo: US DoD)

F-15 Eagle

An F-15 Eagle fighter flies over the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range Complex during Red Flag-Alaska on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 29, 2009. Red Flag is a Pacific Air Forces-directed field training exercise for U.S. and coalition forces flown under simulated air-combat conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher)

A-50 Mainstay

Beriev A-50 Mainstay. (Photo: Beriev)

Tu-142MR

Tu-142MR. (Photo: Beriev)

Su-27 Flanker

A Russian SU-27 fighter flies alongside Fencing 1220, the target of interest for Exercise VIGILANT EAGLE, Aug. 8. VIGILANT EAGLE is a cooperative exercise involving the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the Russian Air Force. The exercise scenario creates a situation that requires both the Russian Air Force and NORAD to launch or divert fighter aircraft to investigate and follow a "hijacked" airliner. The exercise focuses on shadowing and the cooperative hand-off of the monitored aircraft between fighters of the participating nations. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Mike Humphreys)

Su-27 Flanker

A Russian SU-27 fighter escorts Fencing 1220, a Gulfstream 4 simulating a hijacked airliner, over the Kamchatka Peninsula as part of Exercise VIGILANT EAGLE Aug. 8. VIGILANT EAGLE is a cooperative exercise involving the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the Russian Air Force. The exercise scenario creates a situation that requires both the Russian Air Force and NORAD to launch or divert fighter aircraft to investigate and follow a "hijacked" airliner. The exercise focuses on shadowing and the cooperative hand-off of the monitored aircraft between fighters of the participating nations. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Mike Humphreys)

Su-27 Flanker

An SU-27 fighter moves into position to escort a simulated hijacked airliner during the second day of flying for Exercise Vigilant Eagle Aug. 9, 2011. Russian fighters followed and monitored the aircraft while it was in Russian airspace, handing it over to U.S. F-15 fighters from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, when it entered U.S. airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)

Su-27 Flanker

A Russian Federation Air Force SU-27 pilot observes the movements of a simulated hijacked airliner during the second day of flying for Exercise Vigilant Eagle Aug. 9, 2011. Russian fighters followed and monitored the aircraft while it was in Russian airspace, handing it over to U.S. F-15 fighters from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, when it entered U.S. airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)

Su-27 Flanker

A pair of SU-27 fighters escorts a simulated hijacked airliner during the second day of flying for Exercise Vigilant Eagle Aug. 9, 2011. The Russian fighters followed and monitored the aircraft while it was in Russian airspace, handing it over to U.S. F-15 fighters from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, when it entered U.S. airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)

Su-27 Flanker

A pair of SU-27 fighters escorts a simulated hijacked airliner during the second day of flying for Exercise Vigilant Eagle Aug. 9, 2011. The Russian fighters followed and monitored the aircraft while it was in Russian airspace, handing it over to U.S. F-15 fighters from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, when it entered U.S. airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)

Su-27 Flanker

A pair of Russian Federation Air Force SU-27 Flanker fighters takes off during Exercise Vigilant Shield Aug. 8. Fighters from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, and Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, participated in the second-ever joint anti-terrorism exercise centered around a simulated hijacked airliner. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)

A-50

A Russian Federation Air Force A-50 airborne warning and control aircraft takes off to participate in Exercise Vigilant Eagle Aug. 8. Fighters and warning and control aircraft from the U.S. and Russia participated in the second Vigilant Eagle joint anti-terrorism exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)

Desert Hawk III

Lockheed Martin’s Desert Hawk III (DH-III) small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) provides the warfighter with an easy-to-use persistent surveillance platform with day/night situational awareness capability. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

Desert Hawk III

Lockheed Martin’s Desert Hawk III (DH-III) small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) provides the warfighter with an easy-to-use persistent surveillance platform with day/night situational awareness capability. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)