The first Sentry

The first E-3 Sentry rolls out of the Boeing factory on Feb. 1, 1972. Five years later, on Mar. 23. 1977, the E-3 arrives at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., beginning 30 years of continuous air surveillaince and command and control. The 552nd Air Control Wing celebrated the E-3's 30th anniversary June 29 to July 1, inviting past and present E-3 Airmen to gather, swap stories and learn about the newest upgrades for the E-3. (Courtesy photo)

30th anniversary guest speaker

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla -- Gen. Ronald E. Keys, Air Combat Command commander, addresses 552nd Air Control Wing Airmen, past and present, during the E-3 Sentry 30th Anniversary banquet June 30. The E-3 celebrated its 30th anniversary June 29 to July 1. Many former E-3 Airmen attended the banquet to meet new friends and swap stories and memories with old friends. (U.S. Air Force photo/Polly Orcutt)

AWACS 30th noseart

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla -- 1st Lts. Chris Chester and Gerrit Dalman, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, designed the E-3 Sentry 30th anniversary noseart, which was unveiled during the opening ceremony June 29. The E-3 Sentry celebrated its 30th anniversary throughout the weekend by inviting past and present E-3 Airmen to Tinker for tours, briefings and a banquet with Gen. Ronald Keys, Air Combat Command commander, as the guest speaker. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lorraine Amaro)

Noseart unveiling

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla -- An Airman from the 552nd Air Control Wing unveils the 30th anniversary noseart on the newly designated "Centennial Sentry" during the opening ceremony June 29. The E-3 Sentry celebrated its 30th anniversary throughout the weekend by inviting past and present E-3 Airmen to Tinker for tours, briefings and a banquet with Gen. Ronald Keys, Air Combat Command commander, as the guest speaker. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lorraine Amaro)

Fast fueling

An F-22A Raptor refuels Monday, July 17, during Operation Iron Thunder. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jeremy Pretty)

Global Hawk on display

The Global Hawk unmanned aircraft is seen in a hangar at a deployed location in Southwest Aisa. The Global Hawk team reached a break-through point in April; maximizing the aircraft’s sorties and collecting more than 96 percent of the target deck – nearly five thousand images of enemy locations, resources and personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Matthews)

Combat ready Raptor

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Gen. Ronald Keys and Brig. Gen. Burton Fields answer questions during a press conference to announce the F-22A Raptor's initial operating capability today. General Keys is the commander of Air Combat Command. General Fields is the commander of the 1st Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris)

Combat ready Raptor

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Gen. Ronald Keys answers questions during a press conference to announce the F-22A Raptor's initial operating capability today. General Keys is the commander of Air Combat Command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris)

F-22A Raptor

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AFPN) -- The Air Force has changed the designation of the F/A-22 to the F-22A Raptor. The service designated it "F/A" three years ago to stress the stealth fighter's ability to provide close-air support and drop bombs. The "A" will now designate the variant of the aircraft. The fighter from the 27th Fighter Squadron (above) went to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, this year for live weapons training. The Raptor is scheduled to become operational this month with the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers)

Soaring B-1

OVER EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The B-1B Lancer soars above the 2003 Edwards Open House and Air Show here. During the performance, the B-1B set 45 new world records for speed and broke five previously set records. These records became official April 30. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bobbi Garcia)

Delta

ACAPULCO, Mexico -- The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "The Thunderbirds," perform the six ship Delta formation here Oct 31. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Justin D. Pyle)

Guatemalan International Air Show 2005

GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (AFPN) -- The Thunderbirds fly over the skies of Guatemala during the Guatemalan International Air Show 2005 above an estimated 20,000 Guatemalans. They performed there Oct. 26. The last time the Thunderbirds were in Guatemala was in 1974. Other U.S Air Force participants included the F-15 demonstration team from Eglin AFB, Fla.; a KC-135 from the New Hamshire Air ational Guard; two C-17s from McChord AFB, Wash., and McGuire AFB, N.J.; and a C-130 from the Puerto Rico ANG.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Lohr)