200930-F-UQ958-1285

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, scans the horizon as a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flies above the Emerald Coast of Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines the vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1145

600 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition rest outside a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members conducted approach and landing training, and fired .50-caliber ammunition, ensuring Air Force Special Operation Command’s tip of the spear capability and presence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-CR035-1030

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, conducts preflight inspections on a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Williams)

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200930-F-UQ958-1018

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Spencer Mikkelsen, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, reviews paperwork at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members conducted approach and landing training, and fired approximately 600 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition, ensuring Air Force Special Operation Command’s tip of the spear capability and presence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1034

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Spencer Mikkelsen, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, conducts preflight inspections on a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines the vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1171

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Spencer Mikkelsen, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, conducts preflight inspections on a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines the vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1194

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Spencer Mikkelsen, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, conducts preflight inspections on a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines the vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1133

Air Commandos assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command headquarters and the 1st Special Operations Wing inspect .50-caliber ammunition at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members fired approximately 600 rounds of ammunition for training and proficiency, ensuring readiness to execute global special operations any time, any place. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1177

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, conducts preflight inspections of a .50-caliber machine gun on a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members fired approximately 600 rounds of ammunition for training and proficiency, ensuring readiness to execute global special operations any time, any place. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1010

A special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron inspects .50-caliber ammunition before a flight at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members fired approximately 600 rounds of ammunition for training and proficiency, ensuring readiness to execute global special operations any time, any place. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1203

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Dylan Kempker, a pilot assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, prepares to fly a routine training mission at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members conducted approach and landing training, and fired approximately 600 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition, ensuring Air Force Special Operation Command’s tip of the spear capability and presence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-CR035-2043

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, prepares for a training mission on a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members conducted approach and landing training, and fired approximately 600 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition, ensuring Air Force Special Operations Command’s tip of the spear capability and presence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Williams)

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200930-F-UQ958-1073

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, looks on as a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft taxis at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines the vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-CR035-1120

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, watches out the back of a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft while flying above the Emerald Coast, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Williams)

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200930-F-CR035-1480

U.S. Air Force Capt. Craig Haggett, left, a pilot with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Spencer Mikkelsen, center, a special missions aviator with the 8th SOS, and U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Dylan Kempker, a pilot with the 8th SOS, fly a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft over the Emerald Coast, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Williams)

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200930-F-UQ958-1090

A CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft rests in a field at Malone, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines the vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1086

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, scans the horizon from a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft above Malone, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members conducted approach and landing training, and fired approximately 600 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition, ensuring Air Force Special Operation Command’s tip of the spear capability and presence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-UQ958-1099

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, scans the horizon from a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft above Malone, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members conducted approach and landing training, and fired approximately 600 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition, ensuring Air Force Special Operation Command’s tip of the spear capability and presence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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200930-F-CR035-1448

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, fires a .50-caliber machine gun from a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft during a training mission over Eglin Range, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members fired approximately 600 rounds of ammunition for training and proficiency, ensuring readiness to execute global special operations any time, any place. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Williams)

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200930-F-CR035-1237

A CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft takes off after a landing approach during a training mission at Malone, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. The Osprey combines vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Williams)

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200930-F-UQ958-1210

U.S. Air Force Capt. Craig Haggett, a pilot assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, reviews paperwork at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircrew members conducted approach and landing training, and fired approximately 600 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition, ensuring Air Force Special Operation Command’s tip of the spear capability and presence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)

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Osprey's fire for readiness, soar above Emerald Coast

Published Oct. 1, 2020
By Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick and Staff Sgt. Rachel Williams
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --

Aircrew members with the 8th Special Operations Squadron conducted approach and landing training, and fired approximately 600 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition, ensuring Air Force Special Operation Command’s tip of the spear capability and presence. The CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft combines the vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficient and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft.