The students are about to fly the F-18 Hornet for the first time. But even before taking a single flight, one of the rookies calls it quits. In a matter of hours Lt. Dave McLeod gets the call that he has been chosen for the spot. Meanwhile, Air Force tradition dictates that once a pilot goes solo he or she earns a "call sign," a nickname that symbolizes his or her identity as a Hornet pilot. As the celebration gets underway the rookies anxiously await their new handles.

• Kavan Smith