In between assignments in Fort Worth and Phoenix, I dropped by the Angel Thunder combat search and rescue exercise yesterday. Although based in Tucson, the exercise is conducted on a grand scale, covering ground from California to Texas.
The particular scenario I was allowed to observe occurred on the live ordnance range near Gila Bend, Arizona. From my perch on a sun-drenched slope, I watched A-10s and AH-64s fire off thousands of rounds of ammunition on the other side of the valley. The attack aircraft provided covering fire for a rescue operation involving two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.
Watching the helicopters perform, I tried to envision the same operation conducted by Boeing HH-47s -- the aircraft the USAF attempted to buy in 2006 to replace the aging HH-60s.
Also, I got buzzed four times by A-10 pilots, which, as I noted on Twitter, is another way of saying I had a good day at the office.
The particular scenario I was allowed to observe occurred on the live ordnance range near Gila Bend, Arizona. From my perch on a sun-drenched slope, I watched A-10s and AH-64s fire off thousands of rounds of ammunition on the other side of the valley. The attack aircraft provided covering fire for a rescue operation involving two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.
Watching the helicopters perform, I tried to envision the same operation conducted by Boeing HH-47s -- the aircraft the USAF attempted to buy in 2006 to replace the aging HH-60s.
Also, I got buzzed four times by A-10 pilots, which, as I noted on Twitter, is another way of saying I had a good day at the office.
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