Ride of a Lifetime

Senior Master Sgt. Jason Gioconda (right), 177th Fighter Wing aircrew flight equipment superintendent, goes over ejection seat emergency egress procedures with Master Sgt. Samuel Lewis, air terminal supervisor, 166th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard, climbs aboard a high performance military aircraft of the N.J. ANG in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. on May 25, 2011. Sgt. Lewis was given an incentive ride in one of the 177th FW's F-16 Fighting Falcons for his exceptional performance in helping the wing's cargo deployment function prepare for the unit's Phase I Operational Readiness Inspection Apr. 16-17, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Andrew Moseley)

Ride of a Lifetime

Master Sgt. Samuel Lewis, air terminal supervisor, 166th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard, climbs aboard a high performance military aircraft of the N.J. ANG in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. on May 25, 2011. Sgt. Lewis was given an incentive ride in one of the 177th Fighter Wing's F-16 Fighting Falcons for his exceptional performance in helping the wing's cargo deployment function prepare for the unit's Phase I Operational Readiness Inspection Apr. 16-17, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Andrew Moseley)

Ride of a Lifetime

Master Sgt. Samuel Lewis (holding helmet), air terminal supervisor, 166th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt. Michael Forsyth, 166th LRS Chief Enlisted Manager, Del. ANG, on the 177th Fighter Wing, N.J. ANG flightline in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. on May 25, 2011. Sgt. Lewis was given an incentive ride in one of the 177th FWs F-16 Fighting Falcons for his exceptional performance in helping the wing's cargo deployment function prepare for the unit's Phase I Operational Readiness Inspection Apr. 16-17, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Andrew Moseley)

Not your average takeoff

A C-130 takes off on a dirt landing strip in Qalat, Afghanistan Aug. 14, 2011. The C-130 transported Army passengers and cargo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri)

Courtesy Photo

A C-130 Hercules airdrops cargo to ground troops in support of their mission over Afghanistan. C-130’s transport cargo, personnel and airdrop to forward operating bases in the area of responsibility.

Departures/Arrivals

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- A load master on a Delaware Air National Guard C-130 gives a hand to an Airman leaving here, Oct. 18th 2009. The C-130 is used as a transport plane, moving everything from troops to food supplies to medical equipment (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Susan Tracy)