U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Malcolm Mercado, a 40th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, prepares to throw a wind sonde out of a C-130J Hercules aircraft Feb. 23, 2012, over Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The wind sonde device, part of the joint precision airdrop system, was released at a high altitude over a drop zone to measure the wind prior to an actual cargo drop, allowing the C-130 aircrew to drop cargo at safe distances from enemy fire.