33 FW wheels up at Checkered Flag
Lt. Col. Jon Snyder, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, sits in the cockpit of an F-35A Lightning II before takeoff Dec. 8, 2016, at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 33rd Fighter Wing deployed six F-35As and 95 personnel to Checkered Flag 17-1. Checkered Flag is a combat rehearsal where 15 aircraft platforms take to the skies to fly realistic and large-scale operations to prepare for contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson)