130814-F-XC501-002
Staff Sgt. Michael A. Conran performs an in-flight refueling receptacle inspection for the F-35A Lightning II, Aug. 14, 2013, on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Fuel was transferred in flight from a tanker aircraft to the F-35 through the receptacle. Due to the precision needed to properly conduct the mission, post flight maintainers verify the boom did not do any damage thus readying the plane for another sortie. Conran, a crew chief with the 33rd Fighter Wing, recently maintained C-130 Hercules before transitioning to the joint strike fighter.