Ready at 0300 show time

It's 28 degrees but the show must go on. 932nd Airlift Wing Maintenance Group and 932nd Operations Group personnel had an early 0300 (3 a.m.) showtime to launch a mission March 11, 2017, Scott Air Force Base, near Belleville, Ill. A light snow was falling during the cold morning, as the crews prepared the plane for takeoff. The 22nd Air Force wing currently flies VIP airlift missions on four of the C-40C aircraft. In addition to the maintainers preparing the plane on the ground, and the pilots flying the aircraft, it takes a special flight attendant to make all in flight service professional for high-level passengers -- to include past customers like the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the First Lady of the United States, the secretary of State, secretary of the Interior, the CIA director and the Speaker of the House, just to name a few -- a top priority at 28,000 feet, while also juggling many other duties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Stan Paregien)