Name: 1st Lieutenant Kenneth "Barbie" Dahl
Duty title: F-15 Eagle pilot
Unit: 809th Fighter Squadron/Papa Flight/69th Preemptive Nuclear Intercept Squadron
Based on: No one person

My God, where does one begin to describe Barbie? Maybe not using the term "My God" would be a good start...

Barbie is the physical manifestation of every fighter pilot stereotype, both good and bad, in the known world. He is cocky, arrogant, self-absorbed, self-important, self-centered and just selfish. He has been known to display an innocent side, and sometimes his better nature gets the best of him, but those instances are rare. Most of the time, if if it doesn't involve glorifying Barbie in some way, shape or form, don't expect him to care.

An F-15 pilot by trade, he eats, sleeps and breathes all things pilot. One of only three pilots currently assigned to the 809th Fighter Squadron's "remedial training" flight, he is actually one of the squadron's best fighter jocks, and whether he's actually aware of that fact or not, he's quick to let people know. No one tells him how good he is because if his head gets much bigger, it wouldn't fit in the cockpit. That, and only a few people really know.

The 26-year-old son of an enlisted guy, Barbie has known since about the time he was 8 he wanted to be a fighter pilot, much to his father's dismay. He's a kid who figured out what he wanted to be when he grew up and never forgot.

Barbie got his callsign from an incident involving a hot microphone during his first solo flight in pilot training, but didn't find out until years later.

Name: 1st Lieutenant D. "Bert" G.
Duty title: F-15 Eagle pilot
Unit: 809th Fighter Squadron/Papa Flight/69th Preemptive Nuclear Intercept Squadron
Based on: A current USAF T-6 Texan instructor pilot who remains one of Farva's good friends

Barbie's good-natured wingman, Bert is everything Barbie is not, with the exception of a skilled pilot. He was part of the experiment that landed them both in the 69th PNIS, and is ultimately responsible for Barbie's success in the training.

A nice guy, Bert is usually the voice of reason between the two of them. He generally gets along with everyone, and does what he can to keep the peace between his wingman and, well, everyone.

Name: Staff Sgt. Justin "Marco" Coffman
Duty title: Computer guy
Unit: 809th Fighter Squadron/Papa Flight/69th Preemptive Nuclear Intercept Squadron
Based on: USAF Staff Sgt. Justin Coffman

Marco, in Barbie's own words, lives to piss him off. It would certainly seem so; Marco is always looking for a way to get under Lt. Dahl's skin, and usually succeeds.

The 809th's resident computer genius, Marco was assigned to Papa Flight to ensure the unit's computer systems are functioning properly at all times, given the important nature of the "squadron within a squadron."

Marco recently put on his staff sergeant stripe, and is a stickler for rules and regulations. Working around fighter pilots seems to keep in him in a state of perpetual pissiness.

Name: 2nd Lt. Lana "Leia" Willows
Duty title: F-15 Eagle pilot
Unit: 809th Fighter Squadron
Based on: The character isn't based on anyone, but her look and personality is loosely based on an E-3 pilot at Tinker AFB. That, and someone else from Farva's past.

Leia is the newest, and arguably most popular, addition to the 809th Fighter Squadron. A cute, albeit kind of ditsy blonde, she was dubbed "Leia" not for any Star Wars reference but because every guy in the squadron wants to sleep with her. She brings a lot of baggage to the squadron, although most of it is still in the dark to her fellow flyers.

Needless to say, the princess has daddy issues.

Name: Lt. Col. Mike "Deadlock" Rowland
Duty title: F-15 Eagle pilot/Squadron commander
Unit: 809th Fighter Squadron/Papa Flight/69th Preemptive Nuclear Intercept Squadron
Based on: Looks-wise, no one, but the overall character is based on a former commander of the 962nd AACS

An all-around good guy, and a stellar commander, Deadlock is actually a squadron commander within a squadron. As the commander of the 809th's Papa Flight, he reports to the Raging Peckers' commander, but as the leader of the 69th PNIS, he answers directly to his superiors at the 13th Test Wing at Frost AFB, Nevada, home of Badger Ops.

He does his best to keep his pilots in line, and almost always succeeds. He's friendly to his officers and enlisted members alike, and makes sure everyone knows their place. Deadlock is well-liked throughout the 809th, and pilots who aren't even assigned to his units are constantly seeking his advice.

Name: Senior Airman David Figgins
Duty title: Comm guy
Unit: 711th Communications Squadron
Based on: USAF Senior Airman David Figgins

Figgins only pops up every once in a while, so to speak, usually accompanying SSgt Coffman. Although their real-life namesakes don't know each other, the characters are friends.

Figgins also dislikes Dahl, but not to the same degree as Marco.