Navy ground crews communicate with pilots via hand signals

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Colleen Shine, Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25), Naval Air Station, Lemoore, Calif., plane captain, signals to the pilot to start the aircraft’s number two engine on the Nellis Air Force Base flight line Jan. 25, 2013. The Navy's F/A-18E Hornets are participating in Red Flag 13-2 over the Nevada Test and Training Range. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)

480th FS participates in Red, Green Flags

Lt. Col. Marshall Chalverus, 480th Fighter Squadron pilot from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, climbs into the cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Red Flag 13-2 Jan. 22, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. This is the first time the 480th FS has been taking part in both Red Flag and Green Flag exercises at the same time. The squadron is participating in Red Flag 13-2 and Green Flag 13-3 until Feb. 1. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Hughes)

RED FLAG 13-2

Senior Airman Justin Sobie, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, watches the fuel gauges as the KC-135 Stratotanker gets refueled after participating in a mission during Red Flag 13-2 Jan. 22, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The Stratotaker needs the proper amount of fuel in each tank to ensure the proper distribution of fuel to the jets coming to receive fuel during a mission. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Daniel Hughes)

RED FLAG 13-2

Staff Sgt. Sean Lowery, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hydraulics, cleans the boom operator?s window after a refueling mission during Red Flag 13-2 Jan. 22, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Lowery cleans the window to ensure the boom operator has clear visibility of the boom and refueling jet when he connects during refueling operations. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Daniel Hughes)

RED FLAG 13-2

A B-52 Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., banks towards approaches the Nellis flight line for a landing during Red Flag 13-2 Jan. 24, 2013. The Red Flag exercise provides allied air forces the opportunity to train air-to-air combat operations on the Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Caitlin Kenney)

RED FLAG 13-2

An F-15C Eagle from the 65th Aggressor Squadron participates in Red Flag 13-2 Jan. 24, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The Aggressors participate in air-to-air tactics to prepare units for real world adversarial scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Caitlin Kenney)