The 120-foot Air Force-owned missile retriever cruises through the Gulf of Mexico back to the docks March 26 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship is one of a small fleet used to recover sub-scale drones such as the BQM-167 after live fire exercises over the gulf. The ships recover approximately 100 of the $500,000 drones each year. The contracted fleet from Florida Offshore is part of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

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John Wise briefs a tour group on sub-scale drone recovery before his team demonstrates it, March 26 in the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship used for recovery is one of only three 120-foot boats owned by the Air Force. They are contracted from Florida Offshore through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down during live fire exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

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Steve Shafer prepares his wetsuit before going into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico to demonstrate the sub-scale drone recovery process March 26 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship used for recovery is one of only three 120-foot boats owned by the Air Force. They are contracted from Florida Offshore through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down during live fire exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

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Byron Howle directs the crane movements to pick up the model BQM-107 sub-scale drone during a recovery demonstration March 26 in the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship used for recovery is one of only three 120-foot boats owned by the Air Force. They are contracted from Florida Offshore through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down during live fire exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

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Byron Howle keeps the drone model steady with the rope as John Wise (right) directs the crane movements to lower it on to the cradle after a recovery demonstration March 26 in the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship used for recovery is one of only three 120-foot boats owned by the Air Force. They are contracted from Florida Offshore through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down during live fire exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

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John Wise, a 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron contractor with Florida Offshore, waits as the vessel approaches the docks March 26 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The boat he’s on is just one of only three 120-foot sea vessels owned by the Air Force. The other two are at the docks in the distance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

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A view from the front of one of the Air Force's only boats, located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship is one of a small fleet used to recover sub-scale drones such as the BQM-167 after live fire exercises over the gulf. The ships recover approximately 100 of the $500,000 drones each year. The contracted fleet from Florida Offshore is part of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

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Air Force's navy

Published March 28, 2008