PHOTO: Prowler and Growler in Centennial retro paint schemes

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An E/A-6B Prowler from the "Vikings" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Wash., arrives at NAS North Island Jan. 27. The Prowler is painted in a throwback tactical paint scheme (circa 1942), honoring U.S. combat aircraft that fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. The specially-painted Prowler is one of more than 200 naval aircraft, from pre-World War II to the present, participating in a Parade of Flight over San Diego Bay, kicking off a series of nationwide events celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Joseph Moon)

PHOTO: USAF KC-10s mark deployment, operations milestones

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A KC-10 Extender from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., is refueled by another KC-10 from JB McGuire Oct. 28, 2007, during a mission somewhere over the eastern United States. On Jan. 17, 2011, the KC-10 reached a milestone of 20 years of continuous deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)

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PHOTO: 5th aircraft enters Lockheed-Martin C-5M upgrade program

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The fifth Lockheed Martin C-5 has been inducted into the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) to be transformed into the world’s most capable strategic airlifter, the C-5M Super Galaxy. This C-5M Super Galaxy will be delivered later this year and will be stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Lockheed Martin Photo)

PHOTO: Eielson Aggressor F-16 soars over the Alaska Range

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An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, soars over the Alaska Range April 20, 2010, during RED FLAG-Alaska 10-2. Aggressor pilots are trained to act as opposing forces in exercises like Red Flag to better prepare Air Force pilots for air combat. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

See the USAF's 2010 in Photos

PHOTO: NASA Super Guppy unloads ex-RoKAF T-38 at Holloman

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Two ex-Republic of Korea Air Force T-38 Talons are unloaded NASA's Super Guppy aircraft Dec. 14, 2010, after being shipped to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The shipment is the first two of 15 T-38s to be shipped to Holloman AFB to be inspected and regenerated before being flown to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. and Tyndall AFB, Fla. The T-38s will then provide "fifth generation fighter support", a euphemism for being used as aggressor forces against F-22 Raptors during training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Veronica Stamps)

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High resolution photos of J-20 first public flight

I have just added a gallery of high resolution photos of the Chengdu J-20s's first flight yesterday (11 Jan 2011) at Chengdu, China. The photos are NOT mine, and are sourced from various forums around the internet.

Last update: 12 Jan 2011 at 0847 GMT

J-20 makes its first flight

After a false start last week, the Chengdu J-20 has finally made its first flight in the early afternoon of the 11th of January (11/1/11). A prototype took off at around 1250LT (0450 GMT) from the airfield in Chengdu with a J-10S chase plane and made a few flybys of the airfield in front of gathered VIPs (and onlookers) before landing at 1308LT (0508 GMT). Here are some of the better photos from today:




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All photos off the Internet. I will be adding photos to this post as the evening wears on. Please check back often to view our Twitter feed for more updates.

PHOTO: Centenary MH-60R in 1944 retro tricolour scheme

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I personally really like this one. MH-60R BuNo 166524 in the markings of Night Air Group 90 aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6), late 1944. (Photo: US Naval Air Forces Facebook)

PHOTO: Sneak peek of US Navy Centenary Growler

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Here's a sneak peek of the US Navy's Centenary of Naval Aviation EA-18G Growler. Can't wait to see a proper high resolution shot of this one! (Photo: US Naval Air Forces Facebook)

Most viewed USAF pics of 2010

People viewed these photos more than any others on the USAF's Flickr page in 2010. Enjoy!

PHOTO: F-16 refuels from KC-135 over Iraq

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A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron while flying over Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn, Nov. 18, 2010. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

PHOTO: North Carolina F-15E training mission

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Flares are released from an F-15E Strike Eagle during a local training mission Dec. 17, 2010, over North Carolina. The F-15E is from the 335th Fighter Squadron from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Michael B. Keller)

Related: USAF F-15E training mission Photo slideshow

PHOTO: River Rattlers F/A-18A+ in Centennial scheme

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VFA-204 "River Rattlers" Centennial F/A-18A+ BuNo 162866 makes its first squadron flight since coming out of the paint shop painted in an overall Glossy Sea Blue scheme. The X was the station identifier for Naval Air Station New Orleans when Vought F4U Corsairs based there were painted in similar colours in the late 40s and early 50s. Each Reserve base had its own letter as an identifier, with X being the identifier for NAS New Orleans. (US Navy Photo via US Naval Air Forces Facebook)

PHOTO: Avionics-equipped F-35 joins Edwards test program

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The third F-35A to join the test fleet at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., tops off its fuel tanks while cruising west toward its destination after departing Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11. Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew the conventional takeoff and landing variant, known as AF-3, on the 1,200-mile ferry flight. AF-3 will focus on testing advanced technologies and mission systems. The F-35 Lightning II program on Dec. 9 achieved its goal of 394 flights in 2010, and reached the 400-flight mark for the year-to-date on Dec.13. (Lockheed Martin photo by Liz Kaszynski)

Base Leg Note: The tanker in the photo is an NKC-135R Big Crow Flying Laboratory, serial 61-0320

PHOTO: JMSDF MH-53 lands on USS Denver

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A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) MH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter touches down on the flight deck of the amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9) during exercise Keen Sword 2011 in the East China Sea on Dec. 5, 2010. Keen Sword is the 10th joint-bilateral field training exercise since 1986 involving Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the U.S. military. The timing of this exercise also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the U.S.-Japan Cooperation and Security Treaty. Denver is part of the permanently forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is conducting a scheduled patrol in the Western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Blair)

PHOTO: F-15DJ at Keen Sword

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A Japan Air Self Defense Force F-15 waits to refuel just beyond the wingtip of a 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 during bilateral air refueling training May 17. Kadena Airmen have provided air refueling training to JASDF F-15 pilots since 2003. This month, the two nations are working together again to certify about 20 JASDF pilots as they prepare to participate in an upcoming Red Flag exercise in Alaska. (Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Chrissy Best)

PHOTO: Multinational Aircraft at CRUZEX

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Aircraft participate in the Southern Cross exercise Nov. 11, 2010, at Natal Air Base, Brazil. CRUZEX is a multinational, combined exercise involving the air forces of Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and France. This was the first time the U.S. Air Force was invited to participate. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer)

PHOTO: RAAF Roulettes visit central Australia

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The Roulettes fly in wedge formation over Uluru. Over the week starting on Sunday the 31st of October through to 4th November the Roulettes aerobatic display team visited the outback to showcase military flying skills to the public.

More images at the Australian Defence Force website.

PHOTO: Bugs in the morning fog

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101118-N-7214P-007 MIRAMAR, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2010) F/A-18 Hornets are positioned on the flight line of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar during the early morning fog. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 1st Class Anastasia Puscian/Released)

PHOTO: SH-60B Seahawk goes to the Pacific Aviation Museum

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101116-N-7498L-053 PEARL HARBOR (Nov. 16, 2010) Cmdr. Brian Gebo, the commanding officer of the Easy Riders of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 37, and Lt. Brian Roberts land a Sikorsky SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter on Ford Island next to the Pacific Aviation Museum. The helicopter has reached the end of its service life cycle and is now part of the Pacific Aviation Museum collection. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark Logico/Released)