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U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Hinds (right), 1st Fighter Wing commander, assumes command of the 1st FW during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., June 23, 2017. Hinds is a command pilot with more than 2,100 flying hours earned primarily in the F-22 Raptor and F-15C Eagle aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Derek Seifert)

June 23, 2017

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — U.S. Air Force Airmen and civilians from the 1st Fighter Wing welcomed their new commander during a change of command ceremony June 23. U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Hinds assumed command of the wing which is comprised of six squadrons with more than 1,300 members who employ and sustain worldwide rapid deployment of over 40 F-22 Raptor aircraft.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Darshele Green, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team avionics specialist, assists a child while he tries on a pilot’s helmet during the 911th Airlift Wing's Wings Over Pittsburgh 2017 Air Show, at Coraopolis, Pa., May 13, 2017. Throughout the show, the demonstration team hosted a tent for spectators to visit and talk with members the team. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle)

May 23, 2017

Raptor Demo Team; Wings Over Pittsburgh 2017

Coraopolis, Pa. — U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Darshele Green, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team avionics specialist, assists a child while he tries on a pilot’s helmet during the 911th Airlift Wing's Wings Over Pittsburgh 2017 Air Show, at Coraopolis, Pa., May 13, 2017. Throughout the show, the demonstration team hosted a tent for spectators to visit and talk with

1972-D84 (Williams) -- Crew of Ship #2, 27th Aero Squadron at Toul Aerodrome, June 20, 1918. (Courtesy photo)

May 10, 2017

Air Force’s oldest Fighter Squadron celebrates centennial

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — The Air Force’s oldest fighter squadron celebrated its 100th year anniversary at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, May 8, 2017. The 27th Fighter Squadron, dates back to World War I and was originally organized at Kelly Field, Texas. It was later assigned to the 1st Pursuit Group in early 1918, and is now known as the 1st Operations Group. The squadron also served in the European theater from March 1918 until armistice in November of that year.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Dylan Snoddy, 1st Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection technician, looks up technical orders for using the magnetic particle unit at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., May 9, 2017. The magnetic particle unit is used to detect faults in ferromagnetic parts that could result in hazards and equipment malfunctions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Natasha Stannard)

May 9, 2017

NDI ensures minor cracks don't create big problems

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Dylan Snoddy, 1st Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection technician, looks up technical orders for using the magnetic particle unit at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., May 9, 2017. The magnetic particle unit is used to detect faults in ferromagnetic parts that could result in hazards and equipment

A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., prepares to land during ATLANTIC TRIDENT 17 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., April 16, 2017. The goal of the exercise was to enhance interoperability through combined coalition aerial campaigns. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tristan Biese)

April 19, 2017

ATLANTIC TRIDENT 17: Leveraging fifth-gen capabilities

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — The 1st Fighter Wing is on its second week of ATLANTIC TRIDENT 17, an exercise at at Joint Base Langley-Eustis focusing on leveraging fifth-generation fighter capabilities with partnering nations.

A U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon, British Royal Air Force Typhoon, French air force Rafale and U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fly in formation as part of a Trilateral Exercise held at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Dec. 7, 2015. The 1st Fighter Wing hosted the exercise which focuses on operations in a highly-contested operational environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kayla Newman)

March 24, 2017

JBLE hosts ATLANTIC TRIDENT 17

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — U.S. Air Force Airmen will partner with the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force for a second trilateral exercise beginning April 12 through April 28, 2017, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. ATLANTIC TRIDENT 17, hosted by the 1st Fighter Wing, focuses on operations in a highly contested operational environment through a variety of complex, simulated adversary scenarios. The goal of the exercise is to enhance interoperability through combined coalition aerial campaigns.

March 2, 2017

JBLE welcomes President Trump

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — President Donald J. Trump greeted a crowd of service members, their families and friends as he made his first official visit to Joint Base Langley-Eustis and the Tidewater military community, March 2, 2017.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tyler Wineman, 1st Operation Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, stows parachute lines on a T-38 Talon drogue parachute at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Feb. 27, 2017. The AFE parachute shop inspects parachutes regularly to ensure its proper deployment in case of an emergency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Natasha Stannard)

March 1, 2017

AFE: One stitch between life, death

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- — “When someone’s life is in your hands, you have to be cognizant that their life depends on you...You only get one chance.” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tyler Wineman, 1st Operation Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, eluding to what could happen to a pilot if technicians, like him, did not do their job correctly.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Dan Dickinson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team pilot, executes his final flyby for a tack pitch during the 2016 Air Power over Southern Nevada Air Show at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 13, 2016. Dickinson is an F-22 fighter pilot with more than 900 flying hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Mahalia Frost)

Nov. 21, 2016

F-22 Raptor demonstrates at Nellis

Nellis, Nev. — U.S. Air Force Maj. Dan Dickinson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team pilot, executes his final flyby for a tack pitch during the 2016 Air Power over Southern Nevada Air Show at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 13, 2016. Dickinson is an F-22 fighter pilot with more than 900 flying hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Mahalia Frost)

94th Fighter Squadron, F-22A Raptor pilots drop Joint Direct Attack Munitions during the 95th anniversary of Maj. Gen. William “Billy” Mitchell bombing the Ostfriesland at Langley Air Force Base, Va., July 22, 2016. The aircraft that sunk the Ostfriesland 95 years ago took off out of
Langley Field. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. J.D. Strong II)

Nov. 9, 2016

1st FW Raptors, crew soar through flying hours

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – — The 1st Fighter Wing’s F-22 Raptors collectively reached their flying hour mark this fiscal year of more than 6,000 hours. For each fiscal year, the flying hour program tasks the number of hours pilots need to acquire in order to maintain proficient in combative flying, based on budgeting and the maximum number of sorties the wing is capable of producing. With limited resources available, the 1st FW completing the hours was an intricate balance between progression in maintenance and tactical logistics, which guided the Raptors to success. “We have to maximize each and every sortie flown to reach the highest level of combat readiness,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael, 1st Operational Support Squadro¬¬¬¬n director of operations. “It takes a significant number of man-hours and resources to prepare and fix the aircraft for each and every flight.”