Walking past the panther

U.S. Air Force Col. Kristopher Struve, right, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig, left, the 35th FW command chief, walk out of the 13th Fighter Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 28, 2018. Struve, a seasoned F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours, gave Alsvig a familiarization flight, allowing him to see first hand what pilots endure during a routine flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. B.A. Chase)

Taking a ride

U.S. Air Force Col. Kristopher Struve, left, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig, right, the 35th FW command chief, ride in a truck out to an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 28, 2018. Struve, a seasoned F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours, gave Alsvig a familiarization flight. Both Struve and Alsvig have been stationed at Misawa AB three times over their careers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. B.A. Chase)

Sitting still

A helmet bag belonging to U.S. Air Force Col. Kristopher Struve, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, lays on the ground at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 28, 2018. "Torch" is Struve's callsign, which is a specalized form of nickname that is used as a substitue for the aviators given name. He gave U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig, the 35th FW command chief, a familiarization flight allowing him to see the ins and outs of the functions of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. B.A. Chase)

Sitting in a bird

U.S. Air Force Col. Kristopher Struve, right, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig, left, the 35th FW command chief, sit in an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 28, 2018. Struve, a seasoned F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours, gave Alsvig a familiarization flight, allowing him to see first hand what pilots endure during a routine flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. B.A. Chase)

Strapping in

U.S. Air Force Col. Kristopher Struve, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, straps into an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 28, 2018. Struve is a seasoned F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours. He also commanded the 13th Fighter Squadron from June 2015 to July 2016 and led them in the opening days of operations reentering Iraq and into Syria as part of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. B.A. Chase)

Prepare to taxi

U.S. Air Force Col. Kristopher Struve, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig, the 35th FW command chief, prepare to taxi to the runway at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 28, 2018. Struve, a seasoned F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours, gave Alsvig a familiarization flight, allowing him to see first hand what pilots endure during a routine flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. B.A. Chase)

Prepped and ready

U.S. Air Force Col. Kristopher Struve, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, prepares to taxi onto the runway in an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 28, 2018. Struve is a seasoned F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours. He also commanded the 13th Fighter Squadron from June 2015 to July 2016 and led them in the opening days of operations reentering Iraq and into Syria as part of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. B.A. Chase)

Command chief receives familiarization flight

Published Jan. 3, 2019
By Senior Airman Sadie Colbert and Staff Sgt. B.A. Chase
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --

U.S. Air Force Col. Kristopher Struve, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, gave Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig, the 35th FW command chief, a familiarization flight at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 28.

Familiarization flights allow participants an opportunity to see firsthand what it takes for pilots to operate the F-16 Fighting Falcon.