A-10 Thunderbolt II

First Lt. Erik Axt, 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, touches down in his A-10 Thunderbolt II after flying a mission here Aug. 14 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Wicke)

A-10 Thunderbolt II

A pair of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Municipal Airport, Westfield Mass., Massachusetts Air National Guard, fly over the Mediterranean Sea enroute to a forward operating base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark Bucher)

A-10 Thunderbolt II

An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Municipal Airport, Westfield Mass., Massachusetts Air National Guard, banks while flying accross the Mediterranean Sea enroute to a forward operating base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark Bucher)

A-10 Thunderbolt II

An A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska moves into position behind a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 168th Air Refueling Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard to commence refueling operations in support of Exercise Northern Edge. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. David W. Richards)

A-10 Thunderbolt II

The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. They are simple, effective and survivable twin-engine jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Steve Thurow)

A-10 Thunderbolt II

The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. They are simple, effective and survivable twin-engine jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles. (U.S. Air Force photo Staff Sgt. Steve Thurow)

A-10 Thunderbolt II

An A-10 from the 81st Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany flies over central Germany on Feb. 17, 2000. Spangdahlem AB consists of the 81st Fighter Squadron, which flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and two F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons, the 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Blake R. Borsic)

A-10 Thunderbolt II

Maintainers conduct postflight operations on an A-10 Thunderbolt II April 21, 2011, at Osan Air Base, South Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad Thompson)

A-10 Thunderbolt II

Members of the A-10 East Demonstration Team conduct preflight checks on an A-10 Thunderbolt II May 28, 2011, prior to an air show at Jones Beach, N.Y. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth)

A-10 Thunderbolt II

Maj. Dylan Thorpe prepares to land his A-10 Thunderbolt II after a successful flight May 28, 2011, during an air show at Jones Beach, N.Y. Major Thorpe is a pilot with the A-10 East Demonstration Team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter)

B-2 Spirit

A B-2 Spirit deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., began flying operations Oct. 16 at Andersen AFB, Guam. The B-2 is a multi-mission capable, state-of-the-art platform equipped with low-observable stealth technology. The stealth bomber Airmen deployed here will be fully integrated with the rest of the 36th Wing to take full advantage of integrated training opportunities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brian Kimball)

B-2 Spirit

The B-2 stealth bomber completed its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., July 17, 1989. (Courtesy photo)

B-2 Spirit

Air Force officials have awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation to provide advanced state-of-the-art radar components as part of a radar modernization program for the for the B-2 Spirit bomber. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

B-2 Spirit

The B-2 "Spirit of Missouri" taxis on the north ramp Aug. 10 at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., as part of the wing's nuclear operational readiness exercise. The multiple aircraft fly-off tests the skills and operations of the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jason Huddleston)

B-2 Spirit

Airmen 1st Class Patrick Holter (left) and Patrick Dixon start the high-five salute as they prepare to launch the first B-2 Spirit of the day Sept. 8, 2009, on the Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., flightline. The Airmen are crew chiefs with the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and work around the clock to stay prepared for real world missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenny Holston)

B-2 Spirit

Crew chiefs with the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare a B-2 Spirit for flight Aug. 24, 2009, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The B-2's primary mission is to attack time-critical targets early in a conflict to minimize an enemy's warfighting potential. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenny Holston)

B-2 Spirit

An aircrew flies a B-2 Spirit over the airfield as part of an aerial demonstration for the 2010 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show Sept. 11, 2010, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The B-2 is assigned to Whiteman AFB, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)

B-2 Spirit

Maintainers and crew chiefs from the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., prepare B-2 Spirits March 19, 2011, for Operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenny Holston)

B-2 Spirit

A B-2 Spirit returns to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., March 20, 2011, after a mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenny Holston)

B-2 Spirit

A B-2 Spirit flies to the North Pole Oct. 27, 2011, on a test mission from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The polar flight helped ensure that the B-2 maintains its global combat power capability in all environments with new computers for future growth and sustained contributions to the greater Air Force mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bobbi Zapka)