Cleared for takeoff
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Senior Airman Joshua Marcantel inspects the driveshaft to the rear blades of an HH-60 Pave Hawk during a pre-flight inspection here, Sept. 21, 2009. Pre-flight inspections consist of everything from checking for stress fractures to fluids, tires, guns, propellers and controls just to qualify for flight. Airman Marcantel is an HH-60 crew chief with the 55th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz. and hails from Elkins, W.V. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)