FWAPC members visit USAF Academy

Several FWAPC members were guests of the 10th AF on a trip to Colorado Springs where they visited Schriever and Peterson AF bases and the US Air Force Military Academy.

They were treated to a presentation of fire fighting and rescue operations handled by the 302nd Airlift Wing. This included actual footage of military aircraft flying low level, dealing with heat, thermals, fire and dense smoke as they hugged the tops of mountains while dropping fire retardant. The drop lasts just 5 seconds, but the hazards of getting in and out of the fire scene are very real and dramatic.

Considering that the airstrip is turned into an ‘Indy 500’ pit to handle refueling and reloading a continuous string of fire-fighting aircraft, some making as many as 20 sorties a day, it’s easy to understand why these experts are so vital to our nation. For them, it’s always ‘fire season’.

The 310st Space Wing, a very new command, is charged with the oversight of the nation’s communication and weather satellites. It was obvious that the personnel handling these varied functions were enthusiastic about what they are doing. The Commander stated that often it was hard to get some of them to go home at the end of their shift. Watching a live satellite view of twilight moving across Spain on a giant screen was quite a sight.

A visit to the Air Force Academy isn’t complete without a guided tour of the unique chapel. Magnificent is the word often used to describe it. Every foot of the inside of the chapel, at each of it’s’ levels has special meaning in the design, material and lighting.

We were privileged to sit in the VIP stands as the entire corps of 4,400 cadets paraded in review as the Commandant presented the 2009 Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship to Captain C. B. “Sully” Sullenberg.

To ensure the guests stayed awake on our flight, M/Gen Coon arranged for our KC-10 tanker to refuel an A-10, F-16, and that ‘big ole’ B-52. Needless to say, our FWAPC folk had a great trip and extend our thanks to all our hosts, including members of the 514th Airlift Wing... our ‘drivers.’

* All FWAPC trips are paid for by the individuals traveling and not from funds raised to aid our troops and their families.

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