Planes over water — AIR FORCE PHOTOS

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First remotely piloted aircraft flight in Syracuse

The New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing conducted their first MQ-9 Reaper flying operation from Hancock Field Air National Guard Base and Syracuse Hancock International Airport, N.Y., Dec. 16, 2015. The 174th ATKW is the first Air Force organization in the U.S. to fly a remotely piloted aircraft in class C airspace, the common airspace around commercial airports. Prior to this week, all flight operations of the MQ-9 were conducted at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum, N.Y. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Eric Miller)

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RPA community reflects on one year anniversary of airdrop, aids in relieffor thousands

Between August and October of 2014 the Remotely Piloted Aircraft community participated in operations which provided aid to Iraqi citizens who were being threatened by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on Mount Sinjar, Iraq. Overall, the airdrops, provided 682 bundles of supplies containing 362,212 bottles of drinking water, 116,316 meals, 1,008 tents and 1,124 lanterns to Sinjar, and 145 bundles, 96,226 water bottles and 12,137 meals to Amirili. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cory Payne)

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RPA maintenance accomplishes mission despite low retention

The constant and insatiable demand for remotely piloted aircraft airpower has placed stressors on nearly every career field within the enterprise. For the RPA maintenance career fields, these stressors are causing the retention rates to plummet causing rates lower than that of any other aircraft in Air Combat Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen)

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2015 Lethbridge International Air show

Senior Airman Derek Lee, a 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics technician, and Staff Sgt. Craig Stewart, a 432nd AMXS MQ-1 Predator crew chief, assemble an MQ-1 Predator static display July 24, 2015, in Lethbridge, Alberta province, Canada. The MQ-1 Predator is a multirole aircraft used primarily for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and can also be used for kinetic strikes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen)

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Airman improves intelligence career field through innovations

Tech. Sgt. Kevin is a 15th Reconnaissance Squadron intelligence operations supervisor and the intelligence flight NCO in charge at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. He created a program called Squadron Intelligence Reconnaissance Interface, codenamed SIRI, which is an application used by remotely piloted aircraft crew members to execute the mission more efficiently while being more situationally aware. SIRI helps aircrews by acting as a search engine to quickly relay conversions, locations, abbreviations and other information resulting in over 58 command functions on the most used secure internet relay chat by RPA aircrews. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen)

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Frankenphone: Creech Airman improves RPA communications

Staff Sgt. Marion is a 42nd Attack Squadron sensor operator at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. Marion was recognized by Air Force leadership for constructing a device dubbed “Frankenphone 3.5 Ultra High Definition,” which simplifies life in the ground control station while flying remotely piloted aircraft, allowing operators to seamlessly execute the mission and save lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen)

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Frankenphone: Creech Airman improves RPA communications

Staff Sgt. Marion, a 42nd Attack Squadron sensor operator, displays his invention, the “Frankenphone 3.5 Ultra High Definition,” March 24, 2015, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The Frankenphone gets its name because of the way it’s patched together from decommissioned pieces of equipment. It’s a simple design, but the Frankenphone improves air-to-ground communications by putting the aircrew and joint terminal attack controllers on a party line, mitigating the need to repeat messages numerous times and improving communications clarity. This in turn allows operators to seamlessly execute the mission and save lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen)

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Reaper maintainers ensure ISR mission accomplishment

A 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airman performs preflight checks prior to launching an MQ-9 Reaper March 20, 2015, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Airmen assigned to the 451st EAMXS provide 24/7 maintenance support to the Air Force’s largest Reaper unit, ensuring ground troops are supported around the clock. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Whitney Amstutz)

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Reaper maintainers ensure ISR mission accomplishment

An Airman assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron marshals an MQ-9 Reaper to the runway prior to launch March 20, 2015, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Airmen assigned to the 451st EAMXS provide 24/7 maintenance support to the Air Force’s largest Reaper unit, ensuring ground troops are supported around the clock. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Whitney Amstutz)

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62nd ERS keeps mission going

Staff Sgt. Nelson Cherry inspects an MQ-9 Reaper with the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Aug. 18, 2014, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The Reaper is launched, recovered and maintained here. It is also remotely operated by pilots in bases located in the U.S. Cherry is an aircraft armament systems specialist with the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez)

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62nd ERS keeps mission going

Aircraft armament systems specialists walk past MQ-9 Reapers with the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Aug. 18, 2014, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The Reaper is launched, recovered and maintained here. It is also remotely operated by pilots in bases located in the U.S. The Airmen are with the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez)

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MQ-9 Reaper crew chiefs perform a routine inspection on an MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft Aug. 12, 2014, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron thoroughly inspects each part of the aircraft before takeoff and after landing, looking for any discrepancies that could interfere with the proper operation of the aircraft. Inspections are performed based on various factors including total hours flown and discrepancies noticed or reported during training sorties. Additional inspections are completed on several milestones including 200, 400, 800 and 2,000 hours of flight time. Each inspection is more in-depth as the flight hours increase. The crew chiefs are assigned to the 49th AMXS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya)

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MQ-9 Reaper crew chiefs perform a routine inspection on an MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft Aug. 12, 2014, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron thoroughly inspects each part of the aircraft before takeoff and after landing, looking for any discrepancies that could interfere with the proper operation of the aircraft. Additional inspections are completed on several milestones including 200, 400, 800 and 2,000 hours of flight time. Each inspection is more in-depth as the flight hours increase. The crew chiefs are assigned to the 49th AMXS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Leah Ferrante)

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MQ-9 Reaper crew chiefs perform a routine inspection on an MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft Aug. 12, 2014, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron thoroughly inspects each part of the aircraft before takeoff and after landing, looking for any discrepancies that could interfere with the proper operation of the aircraft. Inspections are performed based on various factors including total hours flown and discrepancies noticed or reported during training sorties. The crew chiefs are assigned to the 49th AMXS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Leah Ferrante)

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432nd AMXS surpasses ACCmission capable standards

Staff Sgt. Trung reports a munitions load to the munitions operations center May 12, 2014, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The 432nd Maintenance Group ensures that Airmen, MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, ground control stations, Predator Primary Satellite Links, and a globally-integrated communications network are fully capable to support aircrew training, combat operations, operational test and evaluation, and natural disaster support. Trung is a 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. C.R.)

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RPA unit garners aviation award for excellence

The crew of a remotely-piloted aircraft flies a simulated MQ-9 Reaper training mission May 8, 2014, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The crew is assigned to the 91st Attack Squadron and was recently awarded the 2013 Grover Loening Trophy, a benchmark for the nation’s overall outstanding aviation program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. N.B.)

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Grand Forks AFB Airmen welcome Global Hawk

Airmen from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., welcome the first RQ-4 Global Hawk to the base May 26, 2011. The arrival marked the beginning of a new era of remotely piloted aircraft at the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Johnny Saldivar)

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Officials announce Eglin as MQ-1 squadron candidate base

An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft prepares for takeoff in support of operations in Southwest Asia. Air Force officials announced Eglin Air Force Base complex in Florida as a candidate for an Air Force Reserve Command MQ-1 Remote Split-Operations squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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A drone loses again

A BGM167A drone sits on a launcher, preparing to meet its end from an AIM-9 missile fired by an F-15 Eagle pilot from the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing. The drone serves as a primary target for the F-15 pilots who are participating in Exercise Combat Archer during the Weapons System Evaluation Program at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The exercise allows pilots and maintainers valuable training in the employment of live air-to-air munitions and tests the capabilities of the weapon system. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Mark Fortin)

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Air Force utilizes Global Hawk to support Japan relief efforts

An RQ-4 Global Hawk like the one pictured is being used to assist Japan in disaster relief and recovery efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)

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