Eglin Air Force Base Competition: Which Team Can Arm the Raptor Most Rapidly?

Posted on | by Robbin Laird
08/18/2020

Two crews competed in a morning and afternoon session to see who could load an AIM-9 on each side of the aircraft the fastest and with the fewest mistakes.

This was the quarterly weapons load competition held Aug. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Photos credit: Eglin AFB, August 17, 2020

Senior Airman Chad Kauffman, 43th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and his team lift an AIM-9 during the unit’s quarterly weapons load competition Aug. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Two crews competed in a morning and afternoon session to see who could load an AIM-9 on each side of the aircraft the fastest and with the fewest mistakes. The afternoon crew claimed the victory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
A 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew carries an AIM-9 to their aircraft during the unit’s quarterly weapons load competition Aug. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Two crews competed in a morning and afternoon session to see who could load an AIM-9 on each side of an F-22A Raptor the fastest and with the fewest mistakes. The afternoon crew claimed the victory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
Staff Sgt. Robert Lawrence, 43th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, ensures the AIM-9 is secured to the aircraft during the unit’s quarterly weapons load competition Aug. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Two crews competed in a morning and afternoon session to see who could load an AIM-9 on each side of an F-22A Raptor the fastest and with the fewest mistakes. The afternoon crew claimed the victory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
A 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew carries an AIM-9 to their aircraft during the unit’s quarterly weapons load competition Aug. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Two crews competed in a morning and afternoon session to see who could load an AIM-9 on each side of an F-22A Raptor the fastest and with the fewest mistakes. The afternoon crew claimed the victory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
Staff Sgt. Robert Lawrence, 43th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, reviews a maintenance checklist on a laptop during the unit’s quarterly weapons load competition Aug. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Two crews competed in a morning and afternoon session to see who could load an AIM-9 on each side of an F-22A Raptor the fastest and with the fewest mistakes. The afternoon crew claimed the victory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
A 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew prepares an AIM-9 and their aircraft during the unit’s quarterly weapons load competition Aug. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Two crews competed in a morning and afternoon session to see who could load an AIM-9 on each side of an F-22A Raptor the fastest and with the fewest mistakes. The afternoon crew claimed the victory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)