A look behind, beyond the gates

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. - Twenty five members of the media from central Florida and Georgia attended media day, Oct. 25, 2010, to help gain momentum for Central Florida's Air Force Week, which runs through Halloween, celebrating America's Airmen. The Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing from Patrick Air Force Base, flew the media around CCAFS and its neighbor, Kennedy Space Center in two HH-60G Pave Hawks and an HC-130 King. Space shuttle Discovery was part of the sites as it prepares for lift off Nov. 1. The Rescue Wing Airmen had the chance to showcase thier role as guardians of the astronauts during lift offs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Michele Gibson)

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A look behind, beyond the gates

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. - Rescue Reservists from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing here hosted media personel aboard an HC-130P/N King aircraft. The media were invited for a look behind and beyond the gates of the central Florida Air Force bases, here and Patrick, which is approximately 11 miles south. Media were treated to a tour of the rocket launch pads which are manned by the host base, the 45th Space Wing, and to the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery. The event was held prior to Cocoa Beach Air Force Week to raise awareness for the Air Force in the region and salute Hometown Heroes serving in the Air Force. Appoximately 25 media personnel were present to document the day which was capped off by this flight in the King around Space Shuttle Discovery. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

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A look behind, beyond the gates

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. - Twenty five members of the media from central Florida and Georgia attended media day, Oct. 25, 2010, to help gain momentum for Central Florida's Air Force Week, which runs through Halloween, celebrating America's Airmen. The Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing from Patrick Air Force Base, flew the media around CCAFS and its neighbor, Kennedy Space Center in HH-60G Pave Hawks and an HC-130 King. Space shuttle Discovery was part of the sites as it prepares for lift off Nov. 1. The Rescue Wing Airmen had the chance to showcase thier role as guardians of the astronauts during lift offs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Michele Gibson)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
A look behind, beyond the gates

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. - Rescue Reservists from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, hosted media personell aboard an HC-130P/N King aircraft. The media were invited for a look behind and beyond the gates of the central Florida bases, here and Patrick, which is approximately 11 miles south. Media were treated to a tours of the rocket launch pads which are manned by the host base, the 45th Space Wing, and to the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery. The event was held prior to Cocoa Beach Air Force Week to raise awareness for the Air Force in the region and salute Hometown Heroes serving in the Air Force. Appoximately 25 media personnel were present to document the day which was capped off by this flight in the King around Space Shuttle Discovery. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

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A look behind, beyond the gates

Published Oct. 27, 2010
By Capt. Cathleen Snow
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- With well over 35,000 Airmen currently deployed across the globe in support of contingency operations, the theme of Air Force Week is Honoring Hometown Heroes and it's taking place at the endless summer sanctuary that is Cocoa Beach.

To gain momentum for the weeklong event of Air Force recruiting magnificance, the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing teamed up with its active duty host and mission partner, the 45th Space Wing here to showcase air power to members of the media during media day Oct. 25.

The two Wings pulled out all of the stops with an in-depth look behind the scenes of their air and space assets and their support for manned space exploration.

The weeklong event will highlight the Air Force's mission to fly, fight and win, in air, space and cyberspace, and celebrate the sacrifices its Airmen make everyday carrying out their duties. There are only two Air Force Weeks scheduled annually. The other was held earlier this year in New York City.

Central Florida will be treated to high-speed fly bys over Orlando theme parks, aircraft static displays, media flights, free concerts, barbecues, aerial demonstrations, school and hospital visits, and it all ends with a free air show over Cocoa Beach on the weekend.

During media day, the 920th flew media around the CCAFS and its neighbor, Kennedy Space Center, where they flew past Space Shuttle Discovery as it prepares for its last launch in a few days, November 1.

The ground and aerial tour of the space shuttle not only showcased the third to the last manned space flight launch, but the support both the 45th Space Wing and 920th Rescue Wing continually give to NASA.

The 920th Airmen specifically are charged as guardians of the astronauts and have been tasked with rescuing them if their were a Mode 1 through 8 contingency, 8 being the worst case scenario, a bail out of the shuttle over the ocean upon lift off.

To learn more about these iconic events, which will surely raise the mercury throughout Central Florida, beyond magic-kingdom imagination, go to www.airforceweek.af.mil
or www.facebook.com/airforceweek.

For more information on the 920th RQW and the Cocoa Beach Air Show, contact the 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs Office at (321) 494-0535/6 or log onto: Facebook/920th Rescue Wing (Government Organization).