In the early morning of New Year’s Eve 2008, an F-16C Fighting Falcon sits tethered to the hot cargo pad at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Dec. 31, 2008.

The aircraft is tethered to secure it in place prior to a full afterburner engine run-up.

The Minnesota Air National Guard’s 179th Fighter Squadron carries the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron designation while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson