Flying to get familiar; maintainer gains new perspective of mission

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Victoria Ortaleza, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electronic and environmental systems journeyman, waits to board the F-16D Fighting Falcon aircraft she will fly in at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 4, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska 16-1 sortie. Ortaleza was recommended by her leadership for the flight to learn the impacts of her contribution to the flying mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

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Flying to get familiar; maintainer gains new perspective of mission

U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Kuzmuk, an 18th Aggressor Squadron pilot, and Airman 1st Class Victoria Ortaleza, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electronic and environmental systems journeyman, walk to the F-16D Fighting Falcon aircraft they will fly in at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 4, 2016 during a RED FLAG-Alaska 16-1 sortie. With more than 500 tactical flying hours logged during each RF-A, maintainers work around the clock on various systems, each requiring a specialized Airman like Ortaleza who is responsible for working on the environmental control systems, which controls pressurization, heating and cooling throughout the equipment and cockpit, as well as oxygen systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

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Flying to get familiar; maintainer gains new perspective of mission

U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Kuzmuk, an 18th Aggressor Squadron pilot, secures Airman 1st Class Victoria Ortaleza, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electronic and environmental systems journeyman, into to the F-16D Fighting Falcon aircraft they will fly in at Eielson Air Force base, Alaska, May 4, 2016 during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-1 sortie. In addition to her contributions to RF-A, Ortaleza contributed to more than 500 “Red Air” sorties in the past six months during temporary duty operations across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

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Flying to get familiar; maintainer gains new perspective of mission

U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Kuzmuk, an 18th Aggressor Squadron pilot, and 1st Class Victoria Ortaleza, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electronic and environmental systems journeyman, prepare to take off in the F-16D Fighting Falcon aircraft they will fly in at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 4, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-1 sortie. With more than 500 tactical flying hours logged during each RF-A, maintainers work around the clock on various systems, each requiring specialized Airman like Ortaleza who is responsible for working on the environmental control systems, which controls pressurization, heating and cooling throughout the equipment and cockpit, as well as oxygen systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

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Flying to get familiar; maintainer gains new perspective of mission

U.S. Air Force Maj. Ryan Busbey, an 18th Aggressor Squadron pilot, conducts a pre-flight check on the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft May 4, 2016, on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Busbey will fly training missions during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-1; a Pacific Air Forces command directed field training exercise for U.S. and allied forces, to provide joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

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Flying to get familiar; maintainer gains new perspective of mission

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 354th Operations Support Squadron help Airman 1st Class Victoria Ortaleza, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electronic and environmental systems journeyman, don a gravity suit prior to a familiarization flight May 4, 2016, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Ortaleza was recommended by her leadership for the flight to learn the impacts of her contribution to the flying mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

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Flying to get familiar; maintainer gains new perspective of mission

Published May 4, 2016
By Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel
354th Fighter Wing public affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Victoria Ortaleza, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electronic and environmental systems journeyman, waits to board the F-16D Fighting Falcon aircraft she will fly in at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 4, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska 16-1 sortie. Ortaleza was recommended by her leadership for the flight to learn the impacts of her contribution to the flying mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)