2009 Year in Photos

The year 2009 was a time for reflection and success as Airmen worldwide defended their nation through air, space and cyberspace. In this photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua J. Seybert, Senior Airman Nathan Schroeder welds a crack on a landing gear cover Feb. 24, 2009, at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

No smoke in my eyes...

Crew chief Senior Airman Robert Smith performs liquid oxygen servicing before morning launch during the Maple Flag 42 exercise at 4th Wing Cold Lake in Canada, June 2, 2009. Maple Flag provides aircrews simulated combat training to coalition forces in a NATO environment. Airman Smith is assigned to the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Larry E. Reid Jr.)

Baby, it's cold outside

The first big snowfall of the winter season collects on B-1B Lancers at the Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., flightline Oct. 29, 2009. The B-1 serves as the supersonic component of the Air Force's long-range bomber force, along with the subsonic B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Corey Hook)

Pyramid power

A C-17 Globemaster III flies over the Pyramids of Giza Oct. 15, 2009, during Exercise Bright Star. Bright Star is a joint international military airdrop exercise that strengthens and enhances the cohesiveness of each country's participating forces. The C-17 crew is from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey)

Preemptory strike

Lighting strikes behind A-10 Thunderbolt IIs on the Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., flightline during an early morning thunderstorm Oct. 20, 2009. The 442nd Fighter Wing maintains a fleet of 27 A-10s. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenny Holston)

Night mission

Over Afghanistan, an A-10 Thunderbolt II receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender Oct. 5, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Michael B. Keller)

Ahoy, coming aboard!

Airmen load a U.S. Navy Riverine Command Boat and trailer onto a C-17 Globemaster III Aug. 26, 2009, at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. The Navy's Riverine Group 1 is testing the boat to land on a variety of shorelines to drop off and extract personnel from any area. (U.S. Air Force photo/James M. Bowman)

Shady business

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)

Conquering the rapids

Camp participants raft down the Payette River Aug. 14, 2009, during Operation Purple Camp near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. More than 155,000 children have at least one parent deployed, and during the week of Aug. 9 through 15, 46 of those boys and girls learned coping methods during the camp held in nearby Donnelly. (Photo courtesy Billy Heatter)

Get better soon

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz talks with Senior Airman Bren Mejia during an aeromedical evacuation mission Aug. 7, 2009, on the Andrews Air Force Base, Md., flightline. The 779th Medical Group at Andrews has the busiest aeromedical staging facility in the continental United States, caring for more than 100 wounded and ill warriors returning each week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Renae L. Kleckner)

Training to hunt

A MQ-9 Reaper flies above Creech Air Force Base, Nev., during a local training mission June 9, 2009. The 42nd Attack Squadron at Creech AFB operates the MQ-9. (U.S. Air Force photo/Paul Ridgeway)

To infinity and beyond

A Minotaur I launches May 19, 2009, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Va. The payload is a military TacSat-3 satellite. (Courtesy photo/Orbital, Thom Baur)

Taming the beast

Firefighters attack the flames of an "aircraft" fire during a joint training exercise May 4, 2009, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Firefighters from active-duty, Air Guard and Reserve units participated in the joint training exercise for disaster preparation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Charles Haymond)

Will it float?

Air Force Reserve Command's 920th Rescue Wing pararescuemen position an inflatable flotation collar around a mockup of the Orion space capsule during recovery testing April 8, 2009, near Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The collar stabilizes the capsule after water landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Paul Flipse)

Taking it to the slopes

Senior Airman Kevin Krogh mono-skis April 2, 2009, during the 23rd National Disabled American Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo. Airman Krogh lost both legs in a major car accident in 2007 and this is his first year attending the sports clinic. Airman Krogh is assigned to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Desiree N. Palacios)

Wintery blast

On the flight line at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, KC-135 Stratotankers bear the brunt of a winter storm March 27, 2009, alongside Stratotankers from Grand Forks AFB. Airmen from Grand Forks are on temporary duty at Eielson. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Willard E. Grande II)

You can't hide

A pararescueman provides security during an Exercise Patriot Archangel tactical rescue scenario Oct. 24, 2009, at an undisclosed location in the U.S. The exercise hones Guardian Angel combat operations in "hostile" urban environments and increases combat effectiveness for pararescuemen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson)

Get ready to swim

Staff Sgt. Reid Beveridge (far left), a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, teaches aircrew members water survival at the base pool at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, April 29, 2009. The course helps prepare crew members who might be in an aircraft accident over open waters. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Keith Brown)

Taking the scenic route

A CV-22 Osprey aircraft from the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., flies Jan. 31, 2009, over Florida's Emerald Coast. While over the water, the crew practiced using a hoist, which is used to rescue stranded people. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

Chilly inauguration preparations

The Capitol Dome provides the background as U.S. servicemembers prepare for the 56th presidential inauguration rehearsal Jan. 11, 2009, in Washington, D.C. More than 5,000 men and women in uniform are providing military ceremonial support to the inauguration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Here's the pitch

U.S. Air Force Academy junior pitcher Alex Truesdale delivers a pitch during the 20-13 loss to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at Falcon Field April 25, 2009, at the Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Falcons had 18 hits on the day with three homers, but dropped to a 14-25 overall record. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Low out below!

The U.S. Air Force Academy Parachute Team jumps out of their aircraft over Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the Aviation Nation air show Nov. 15, 2009. The open house is an opportunity for the Las Vegas community to view aerial demonstrations and static displays of various aircraft from the military. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Brett Clashman)

It's good to be green

Airman 1st Class Marvin Moss looks for surface defects under a black light Aug. 26, 2009, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The black light causes particles which are unseen to the human eye to become fluorescent. Airman Moss is a non-destructive inspection journeyman assigned to the 354th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Shine a light?

Senior Airman William Hills performs an inlet inspection on an F-16 Fighting Falcon jet engine Aug. 12, 2009, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The check is performed during a routine maintenance assessment to look for nicks or foreign object damage to the blades. Airman Hills is an air space propulsions jet mechanic assigned to the 354th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Laura Goodgame)