Preflight Collection

An F-22 Raptor parked in front of a hardened aircraft shelter at Kadena Air Base
An F-22 Raptor from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, sits in front of a hardened aircraft shelter at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa

Night view of space shuttle Atlantis on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, Florida
July 7, 2011 - The space shuttle Atlantis is seen shortly after the rotating service structure (RSS) was rolled back at launch pad 39a at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida

Space shuttle Atlantis on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, Florida
July 7, 2011 - The space shuttle Atlantis is revealed as the rotating service structure (RSS) is rolled back at launch pad 39a at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida

Expertise: Inspirational Quote and Motivational Poster
Expertise - Inspirational Quote and Motivational Poster. It reads: When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. ~ John Ruskin

Pilots prepare for a mission in the Tiger Eurocopter of the Germany Army
German test pilots prepare for a mission in the Tiger Eurocopter of the Germany Army, Schoenefeld Airport, Germany

U. S. Army AH-64D Apache helicopter pilots conduct preflight checks
U.S. Army AH-64D Apache helicopter pilots conduct preflight checks at Letzlingen Army Training Center, Germany

Airman signals to the pilot of an F-16A Netz of the Israeli Air Force
An airman signals to the pilot of an F-16A Netz of the Israeli Air Force the preflight check sequence at Nevatim Air Force Base, Israel

Sailors perform pre-launch checks on an EA-18G Growler
Arabian Sea, September 6, 2011 - Sailors perform pre-launch checks on an EA-18G Growler on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W

A T-6 Texan trainer of the Hellenic Air Force is readied to fly, Kalamata, Greece

Airman performs a pre-flight inspection on a C-130 Hercules
Ramstein Air Base, Germany, September 18, 2008 - United States Air Force Airman performs a pre-flight inspection on a C-130 Hercules

Aircrew of an AH-64 Apache helicopter conducting preflight checks before lifting
February 1, 2005 - The aircrew of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter conducts preflight checks before lifting off from the USS Nassau (LHA-4)

Maintainers perform pre-flight inspections on A-10 Thunderbolt II s
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, March 23, 2006 - Four A-10 Thunderbolt IIs sit on the end of the runway as maintainers perform pre-flight inspections as part of the 2006 Hawgsmoke competition

An F-16 pilot onducts preflight checks at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
An F-16 pilot from the 162nd Fighter Wing conducts preflight checks before he taxis out to the runway for a training mission at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona

Naval aviator performs pre-flight checks on an F / A-18C Hornet
May 21, 2014 - Naval aviator performs pre-flight checks on an F/A-18C Hornet before Green Flag 14-07 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

An F-22 Raptor goes through pre-flight checks at Kadena Air Base
An F-22 Raptor from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, goes through pre-flights checks before taking off on a training mission at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan

British soldiers perform maintenance on an Apache helicopter at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan

An Airman conducting a preflight inspection of an HH-60G Pave Hawk
Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, June 25, 2009 - An Airman conducts a preflight inspection of an HH-60G Pave Hawk

Sailors prepare an F / A-18C Hornet for flight operations aboard USS John C. Stennis
Arabian Gulf, September 20, 2011 - Sailors prepare an F/A-18C Hornet for flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C

Pilots perform preflight checks in the cockpit of a Eurofighter Typhoon
Pilots perform preflight checks in the cockpit of a Spanish Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, Moron, Spain

U. S. Marines perform preflight checks on a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter
April 2, 2007 - U.S. Marines perform preflight checks on a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter prior to launching a mission from Al Asad Air Base, Iraq

A Sailor cleans the nose of an F / A-18F Super Hornet
Pacific Ocean, September 19, 2005 - A Sailor cleans the nose of an F/A-18F Super Hornet as part of morning pre-flight preparations on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham

Pilot standing in a Socata TB-30 Epsilon trainer aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force, Beja, Portugal

Pre-flight inspection of a C-130 Hercules
Balad Air Base, Iraq, December 4, 2004 - A loadmaster conducts an engine start up and pre flight inspection on his C-130 Hercules prior to taking off during Operation Iraqi Freedom

A Panavia Tornado ECR of the Italian Air Force prepares for a night mission on the ramp of Piacenza Air Base, Italy

Pilot makes final pre-flight checks on an F-15E Strike Eagle
April 24, 2007 - Pilot makes final pre-flight checks on an F-15E Strike Eagle during Exercise Green Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

Aviation Structural Mechanics inspect rotor blades on HH-60H Seahawks
Pacific Ocean, August 3, 2004 - Aviation Structural Mechanics inspect rotor blades on HH-60H Seahawks prior to flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)

Italian Air Force Tornado ECR with rainbow, Albacete, Spain
Italian Air Force Tornado ECR with rainbow, taken at NATO TLP course, Albacete, Spain

Captains perform pre-flight checks on an AH-1W Super Cobra
Aqaba, Jordan, May 23, 2014 - Plane captains aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) conduct pre-flight checks on an AH-1W Super Cobra while a landing craft air cushion (LCAC)

U. S. Army UH-60L Loadmaster confirms pre-fliight check on his aircraft
A U.S. Army UH-60L Loadmaster confirms pre-fliight check is done on his Blackhawk helicopter for a flight over Kunduz, Afghanistan

A view from the Tactical Coordinators position aboard a U. S. Navy S-3B Viking aircraft
A view from the Tactical Coordinators position aboard a U.S. Navy S-3B Viking aircraft, showing the Pilot and Co-Pilot manning their positions during a pre-flight check as the aircraft taxies into

T-38 Talon pilots make their final cockpit adjustments before takeoff
January 26, 2011 - T-38 Talon pilots make their final adjustments in the cockpit before takeoff at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri

U. S. Air Force crew chiefs do pre-flight checks under an F-16 Fighting Falcon
August 15, 2011 - U.S. Air Force crew chiefs do pre-flight checks under an F-16 Fighting Falcon before a training mission during Green Flag-West 11-9 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

U. S. Airmen conduct preflight services on an RQ-4 Global Hawk
February 12, 2010 - U.S. Airmen conduct preflight services on an RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle at an undisclosed base in Southwest Asia prior to a combat mission

An A-10C Thunderbird pilot goes through his preflight checks
An A-10C Thunderbird pilot from the 190th Fighter Squadron goes through his preflight checks

A crew chief performs preflight inspections on an A-10 Thunderbolt from the 190th Fighter Squadron

Pilots perform a pre-flight on their T-6 Texan trainer aircraft
Pilots perform a pre-flight test on their T-6 Texan trainer aircraft

Ground crew conducting pre-flight-checks on a German Tornado ECR, armed with an HARM missile, in front of its shelter

Final checks are made on a Royal Air Force Typhoon prior to takeoff at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, as part of a Red Flag mission

A pilot conducts preflight checks on his F-16 Fighting Falcon
An F-16 pilot from the 162nd Fighter Wing conducts preflight checks before he taxis out to the runway for a training mission in Tucson, Arizona

T-6 Texan trainer aircraft of the Iraqi Air Force

OH-58D Kiowa pilots run through their pre-flight checks before taking off
Tikrit, Iraq - OH-58D Kiowa pilots from the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, run through their pre-flight checks before taking off on a mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom

An F-16I Sufa of the Israeli Air Force ready to be armed with practice bombs at Ramon Air Force Base, Israel

An F / A-18C Hornet being readied for flight at MCAS Miramar, California
An F/A-18C Hornet of United States Marine Corps squadron VMFA-314, being readied for flight at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California

A U. S. Army crew chief stands next to a UH-60 Black Hawk
A U.S. Army crew chief stands by while pilots go through their pre-start checks on a UH-60 Black Hawk, Tikrit, Iraq

F-16 pilots work with crew chiefs on preflight checks at Luke Air Force Base
F-16s pilots work with crew chiefs on end of runway checks before taking off on a training mission from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona

F-16s line up at the end of the runway for preflight checks
F-16s from the 162nd Fighter Wing line up at the end of the runway for preflight checks at the Tucson International Airport, Arizona

T-6 Texan pilots of the Hellenic Air Force, Kalamata, Greece

A crew chief pre-flights a F-15 fighter jet for Exercise Cope Snapper 2002
October 23, 2002 - A crew chief pre-flights a F-15 fighter jet for Exercise Cope Snapper 2002

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"Preparing for Flight: The Importance Inspections" An F-22 Raptor parked in front of a hardened aircraft shelter at Kadena Air Base, ready to take on the skies. Members from the 143d Airlift Wing Operations Squadron, Rhode Island Air National Guard perform a meticulous preflight inspection, ensuring every component is in perfect condition. Their dedication and attention to detail are crucial for a safe and successful mission. Meanwhile, NASA's F-15B testbed aircraft undergoes pre-flight checks before embarking on its groundbreaking flight with the Quiet Spike. Engineers meticulously examine every aspect of the aircraft, leaving no room for error as they push boundaries in aerospace technology. The members from the 143d Airlift Wing Operations Squadron continue their diligent work, performing preflight inspections time and again. Their commitment to safety ensures that each flight is executed flawlessly. In another part of the world, night falls over Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The space shuttle Atlantis stands tall on the launch pad, awaiting its next journey into outer space. Before this magnificent feat can occur, an extensive preflight inspection takes place under the watchful eyes of dedicated technicians and engineers. Preflight inspections are not just routine procedures; they are essential safeguards against potential risks during flight operations. These thorough examinations encompass everything from checking fuel levels to inspecting critical systems like engines and avionics. Whether it's military jets or spacecraft bound for distant galaxies, these preflight rituals serve as reminders that even cutting-edge technology requires human expertise to ensure safety and success. So next time you witness an awe-inspiring aircraft poised for takeoff or catch sight of a spaceship preparing for its celestial voyage – remember that behind those remarkable feats lie countless hours spent by skilled professionals conducting meticulous preflight inspections.