Flying the fleet trains airmen, brings pride

Airmen from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing here stepped up to the challenge from their commander, Col. Robert Dunn, who had them launch the wing's entire fleet of aircraft March 6 during their drill training weekend.

The mission simulated a mass hurricane evacuation prior to the start of Florida's storm season, as well as the 920th RQW's busy deployment schedules.

Three HC-130P/N King fixed-wing aircraft were launched at approximately 9 a.m. Immediately following their takeoff, Airmen launched six HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters.

Onlookers on the beach said the aircraft disappeared into the mist shortly after liftoff as there was a thick cloud cover and it rained off and on around the base when the planes took off.

Airmen flew the aircraft several miles out to sea where the Kings refueled the Pave Hawks, then the fleet returned to the coastline, flew south approximately 10 miles, then turned and flew north about the same distance north along Cocoa Beach, then back to PAFB.

Colonel Dunn said this was the first time the entire operational fleet was flown in more than 15 years and it was significant for 920th RQW Airmen for many reasons.

"To do something like this takes a lot of effort," Colonel Dunn said. "These are old planes; to put one hundred percent of them in the air together is a major feat that required a lot of time, effort and coordination from everyone.

In addition to training for hurricane evacuation and natural disaster relief, Colonel Dunn said having the aircraft maintainers work together and see the fruits of their labor was a great morale booster for them.

"It's good practice, and it's motivational," he said. "To see the [aircraft] maintainers out there watching all the planes and helicopters take off, and seeing the pride in their faces for what they've accomplished, makes it all worth it."

The colonel said he knew this would require extensive work from all Airmen, but he believes the entire wing benefited from it. He said it was a great success, and he was proud of the hard work his Airmen did to make it happen.

"It couldn't have been a better day," he said. "There was a lot of pride out there."

The maintainers started organizing the mission early to make sure everything would run smoothly. They began coordinating three months earlier with pilots and aircrew.

The wing has three additional HC-130s to the three that launched, but two are getting scheduled maintenance inspections at other locations, and one is at another location performing a temporary duty mission. The wing also has two additional helicopters, but they are also getting scheduled maintenance inspections off-site.

The primary mission of the 920th RQW is a combat-search-and-rescue. The unit is also tasked as the primary rescue force for NASA astronauts during lift off and local civilian search and rescue, as well as humanitarian relief.

By Staff Sgt. Annamarie Wyant - 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs