U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tammy Thompson (left) and Airman 1st Class Tyrone Giraldo, both 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chiefs, perform maintenance on an F-16 Fighting Falcon, June 19, 2012, Shaw Air force Base, S.C. Aircraft maintenance is an around the clock job for crew chiefs and maintainers stationed at Shaw. Airmen work hard to ensure aircraft are prepared for worldwide operations and short notice missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston/Released)
U.S. Air Force crew chiefs assigned to the 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare F-16 Fighting Falcons for take off, June 19, 2012, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Crew chiefs assigned to the 20th AMXS work around the clock maintaining and launching F-16’s for three fighter squadrons assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston/Released)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. George Monteiro, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, talks with one of his crew chiefs as the crew chief gets his equipment together before prepping an F-16 Fighting Falcon for launch, June 19, 2012, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. With aircraft maintenance being performed around the clock and Airmen working long hours, senior NCO’s like Monteiro are sure to get out to the flight line with their Airmen to ensure any needs their folks may have are taken care of so they are able to keep aircraft flying. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston/Released)
Flight line personnel at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. stay on the move as F-16 Fighting Falcons are prepped and launched, June 19, 2012. U.S. Air Force fighter pilots assigned to one of the three fighter squadrons under the 20th Fighter Wing perform sorties on a daily basis to stay proficient and mission ready to meet the demands of any worldwide tasking at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Brian Fisher, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, communicates with the pilot of an F-16 Fighting Falcon as he performs his final check on the aircraft before launching it, June 19, 2012, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Crew chiefs assigned to the 20th AMXS work around the clock maintaining and launching F-16’s for three fighter squadrons assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Brian Fisher, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, communicates with the pilot of an F-16 Fighting Falcon as he refers to his technical order manual while prepping to launch the F-16, June 19, 2012, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Crew chiefs assigned to the 20th AMXS work around the clock maintaining and launching F-16’s for three fighter squadrons assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston/Released)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon taxis back to its parking spot as other F-16s take off to perform sorties, June 19, 2012, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Flight operations at Shaw AFB are constant as pilots must keep their skills sharp to meet the demands of any global mission at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston/Released)
by Senior Airman Kenny Holston
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
6/25/2012 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Crew chiefs and aircraft maintainers assigned to the 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron sometimes execute 24-hour operations to ensure the 20th Fighter Wing's combat aircraft, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, is groomed for any global mission.
This set of images shows 20th AMXS Airmen maintaining and launching F-16s, giving fighter pilots the opportunity to perform sorties and maintain flight hours, thus keeping their skills sharp.
