Maj. Tom Juntunen, 310th FS instructor pilot with more than 1,500 flying hours in the F-16, conducts a preflight inspection before taking off to participate in a close air support exercise on August 2nd, 2011 at Luke AFB. Juntunen's job is to certify a select number of F-16 pilots to be controllers in the sky. [USAF photo by SMSgt. Larry Schneck]
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News: Luke-trained warriors direct fight while in flight [2011-08-12]
Statistically, for every F-16 fighter squadron in the U.S. Air Force, only about 10 percent of pilots are certified to direct an air strike on ground targets. These controllers in the sky prioritize battlefield targets and act as gatekeepers for the ground commander.
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