Rescue Reservists support MacDill AirFest

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Anna-Marie Wyant
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing supported AirFest 2016 here March 19-20, bringing with them a unique aircraft and mission within the Air Force Reserve Command.

Six 920th RQW Reservists spent the weekend showing off one of the wing's HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to interested visitors during the airshow. Three pilots, two special mission aviators and one HH-60 maintenance specialist gave visitors insight into the wing rescue mission and their role as rescue Airmen, as well as specifics on the helicopter they use to save lives.

"AirFest was a great opportunity to showcase our capabilities and to speak with the public about combat rescue," said Capt. Matt Miller, a Pave Hawk pilot from the 301st Rescue Squadron who worked at the static display. "These events are an important way to increase awareness and gain support from the taxpayers who make it all possible."

MacDill's AirFest, which is held every other year and is free and open to the public, had approximately 90,000 visitors over the weekend. Officials said it is one of the largest events in the Tampa Bay area. Due to incoming thunderstorms and a tornado watch, AirFest was put on hold from approximately 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. March 19. Despite the inclement weather, many of the visitors waited out the storms in the safety of an aircraft hangar.

After the weather cleared up, several of those visitors took turns sitting in the Pave Hawk cockpit, pretending to fast-rope out of the helicopter, trying on rescue gear and posing with the GAU-2 'minigun.' The 920th Airmen posed for photos, answered questions and educated the community about the wing, the Air Force Reserve and the rescue mission. The Pave Hawk was one of approximately 50 aircraft from across North America displayed at the event.

The Thunderbirds, the Air Force's F-16C Fighting Falcon aerial demonstration team, were the main attraction at AirFest, but the HH-60 static display also attracted a lot of attention. Miller said there was a constant line of people wanting to step inside the Pave Hawk, amounting to thousands of people over two days. Even with the weather delay, he said the airshow was a success.

"We all had a great time, and I'm proud I was given the chance to represent our wing and our mission," Miller said. "Hopefully next time we will have the opportunity to perform a flight demo in addition to the static display."

The 920th RQW is headquartered at Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, Florida. It is the only Air Force Reserve combat-search-and-rescue wing, as well as the only AFRC wing with HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The 920th RQW has three geographically separated units: the 943rd Operations Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; 304th Rescue Squadron at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon; and the 920th Aerospace Medicine Flight at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The wing's motto, "These things we do, that others may live," is indicative of their commitment to saving lives.