Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt – February 7 2025
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“We train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen”
Honorary Commander FAM Flight
INSIDE
StorIES
4th Q Weapons Competition, 2
Thunderbolt Cup 2025, 3
DFAC closes for remodel, 4
Massing of Colors ceremony, 9
FEAtUrE
U.S. Air Force photo by Jakob Hambright
Belgium commander visits
See Page 5
U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Suejin Lim
A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC- 135 Stratotanker, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arizona. Air-to-air refueling allows aircraft to fly longer distances, as the U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker pumps thousands of pounds of fuel into aircraft flying within about 50 feet of each other at high speeds, demonstrating airpower.
Honorary commanders pose for a photo in front of a 161st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker, Jan. 10, 2025, at Goldwater Air National Guard Base, Arizona.
U.S. Air Force Col. Jessica Hastings, 161st Air Refueling Wing commander, briefs 56th Fighter Wing honorary commanders on the history of their unit and the U.S. Air Force KC- 135 Stratotanker, Jan. 10, 2025, at Goldwater Air National Guard Base, Arizona.
Laura Roman, 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron honorary commander, peers out the window of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, Jan. 10, 2025, from the skies above Arizona. The 161st Air Refueling Wing hosted a familiarization flight for honorary command- ers to showcase the partnership and interoperability capabilities while refueling F-35s from the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Trent Stokes, 161st Air Refueling Wing boom operator, supervises as hon- orary commanders view refueling operations from the boom pod of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotank- er, Jan. 10, 2025, in the skies of Arizona.
Sarah Krahenbuhl, 56th Operations Group honorary commander, snaps
a photo near the cockpit of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, Jan. 10, 2025, from the skies above Arizona. The honorary commander program pairs community leaders with base leadership to build and maintain solid relationships within the community.
Feb. 7 2025 Vol. 24, No. 2
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