U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk

San Francisco Bay, California, USA, 24 August 2000 — California Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Mike Sampognaro, flight engineer, keeps an eye on the Pacific ocean waves 20 feet below the HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Federal Airfield, California. Lt. Col. Thomas Laut must fly with extreme care as he deals with gusting winds, sea spray, sun glare, and sea swells. He is climbing from a "low-and-slow" flight only six feet above the waves when he deployed his pararescuemen into the chilly waters outside the Golden Gate Bridge. The HH-60G's primary wartime mission is combat search and rescue, infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces in day, night or marginal weather conditions. Some members of the 129th provided technical assistance for the production of the movie "The Perfect Storm."

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lance Cheung.

Web Aircav.com