/ Published August 29, 2011
Staff Sgt. Cris Hunter, a flight engineer for 711th Special Operations Squadron, checks for malfunctions on the wing of a MC-130E Talon I on Duke Field, Fla. The flight engineer monitors the aircraft systems and calculates performance capabilities of the aircraft. The 711th SOS, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, conducts flight training missions five days a week to maintain currency on all of their readiness requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Foster)
Tech. Sgt. Patrick Taylor, a loadmaster for 711th Special Operations Squadron, calculates weight and balance for the MC-130E Talon I before a training flight on Duke Field, Fla. Loadmasters are responsible for ensuring the aircraft’s cargo is loaded and restrained properly. The 711th SOS, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, conducts flight training missions five days a week to maintain currency on all of their readiness requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Foster)
Staff Sgt. Cris Hunter, a flight engineer for 711th Special Operations Squadron, confers with a crew chief about a maintenance issue with a MC-130E Talon I on Duke Field, Fla. The flight engineer monitors the aircraft systems and calculates performance capabilities of the aircraft. The 711th SOS, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, conducts flight training missions five days a week to maintain currency on all of their readiness requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Foster)
Capt. John Karlesky is a MC-130E Talon I pilot for 711th Special Operations Squadron on Duke Field, Fla. Pilots in 711th SOS specialize in performing covert missions into denied airspace using low level, terrain-following tactics in all weather conditions. The 711th SOS, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, conducts flight training missions five days a week to maintain currency on all of their readiness requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Foster)
Staff Sgt. Cris Hunter, a flight engineer for 711th Special Operations Squadron, walks on the wing of a MC-130E Talon I to check for malfunctions prior to a training mission on Duke Field, Fla. The flight engineer monitors the aircraft systems and calculates performance capabilities of the aircraft. The 711th SOS, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, conducts flight training missions five days a week to maintain currency on all of their readiness requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Foster)
Master Sgt. Mike Vasquez, a flight engineer for 711th Special Operations Squadron, advises pilot, Capt John Karlesky, on the MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft’s flight system status during a training flight out of Duke Field, Fla, Aug. 2011. The flight engineer monitors the aircraft systems and calculates performance capabilities of the aircraft. The 711th SOS, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, conducts flight training missions five days a week to maintain currency on all of their readiness requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Foster)
Tech. Sgt. Patrick Taylor, a loadmaster for 711th Special Operations Squadron, looks out of the cargo bay of the MC-130E Talon I during a training flight out of Duke Field, Fla. Loadmasters are responsible for preparing the cargo for air drops and manually releasing loads, if not on automatic systems. The 711th SOS, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, conducts flight training missions five days a week to maintain currency on all of their readiness requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Foster)
Maj. Leslie Hadley is a pilot for 711th Special Operations Squadron on Duke Field, Fla. Hadley came to Duke Field approximately three years ago where pilots specialize in performing covert missions into denied airspace using low level, terrain-following tactics in all weather conditions. The 711th SOS, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, conducts flight training missions five days a week to maintain currency on all of their readiness requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Foster)
Staff Sgt. Cris Hunter, a flight engineer for 711th Special Operations Squadron, checks a graph on the MC-130E Talon I on a training mission on Duke Field, Fla. The flight engineer monitors the aircraft systems and calculates performance capabilities of the aircraft. The 711th SOS, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, conducts flight training missions five days a week to maintain currency on all of their readiness requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Foster)