Driving the Hog

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Lt. Col. Stephen Chappel, an A-10 pilot deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing here, puts on his flight helmet in preparation to fly a combat mission over Afghanistan May 13. Colonel Chappel is an Air Force Reservist deployed from the 442nd Fighter Wing, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (US Air Force photo by Maj. David Kurle, 455 AEW/PA)

Preparing to fly

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Lt. Col. Stephen Chappel, an A-10 pilot deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing here, prepares to fly an A-10 Thunderbolt II on a combat mission over Afghanistan May 13. Colonel Chappel is an Air Force Reservist deployed from the 442nd Fighter Wing, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (US Air Force photo by Maj. David Kurle, 455 AEW/PA)

Litening and thunder

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Lt. Col. Stephen Chappel, an A-10 pilot deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing here, performs a walk-around inspection of a Litening II targeting pod mounted on an A-10 Thunderbolt II May 13 in preparation for a mission over Afghanistan. The A-10 fires a 30-milimeter canon, and can carry up to 16,000-pounds of ordnance for close air support missions to support troops on the ground. The Litening pod assists the pilot in targeting and employing precision-guided munitions and enhances the emerging reconnaissance role of the A-10. Colonel Chappel is an Air Force Reservist deployed from the 442nd Fighter Wing, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (US Air Force photo by Maj. David Kurle, 455 AEW/PA)

Prepping a Hog

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Lt. Col. Stephen Chappel, an A-10 pilot deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing here, performs a walk-around inspection of an A-10 Thunderbolt II May 13 in preparation for a mission over Afghanistan. The A-10 fires a 30-milimeter canon, and can carry up to 16,000-pounds of ordnance for close air support missions to support troops on the ground. Colonel Chappel is an Air Force Reservist deployed from the 442nd Fighter Wing, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (US Air Force photo by Maj. David Kurle, 455 AEW/PA)