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Year In Review: Operation Christmas Drop 2015

Yeah, I know it has been more than a year since I promised this video, but here it is finally.  While I am by no means a professional video maker, there is some pretty awesome footage in there.

Operation Christmas Drop 2015 was the 64th annual edition of this humanitarian operation, making it the longest running humanitarian aid mission in DOD history.  Over a seven-day period we dropped to 56 islands covering more than 2 million square miles of mostly water.  To give you some perspective, that is an area larger than the continental United States.

This was the first year that the US Air Force was joined by the Royal Australian Air Force and Japanese Air Self Defense Force, and it was a tremendous success.  All three nations gained valuable knowledge and experience from this amazing operation.

I have done some amazing things over the past year, but I honestly don’t know that I could ever have more fun flying than I did for this week.  Cruising out at altitude for hours and then descending into the middle of the Pacific Ocean and picking out an island that is less than a square mile in area is incredibly fulfilling.

As you level off over the islands you see the bluest blue waters surrounding stunningly green palm trees with small groups of people waving and excited to see you.  It is hard to imagine a more remote location and that makes the airdrops that much more challenging.

Normally we airdrop on surveyed drop zones with ground controllers that increase our situational awareness by giving us winds and ensuring the drop zone is secure.  In this case we have to estimate the winds ourselves, and make multiple passes to ensure that we drop in a safe location free of people and structures.

While this can be extremely challenging, it is also incredibly rewarding to see all of the countless hours of training we do pay off as we deliver Christmas to people who wouldn’t receive it in any other way.

It is a little weird to celebrate Christmas in the toasty region of Guam and the South Pacific, but I also can’t think of a much more rewarding and fulfilling way to enjoy the season.

While I am no professional video maker, I hope you enjoy the footage, and I would love to hear any comments you may have to share.

 

January 18, 2017 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Angel Flight Video by Radney Foster Featuring the C-130

Like most avgeeks I am a sucker for a good airplane video.  While one of these videos is just a compilation of pictures, those pictures, along with the words to the song brought tears to my eyes.  Maybe it is my current position, but it just really hit home for me.  It truly is the most sacred work that we do on the C-130.

It is only four minutes long so please take a minute and watch it.  I actually found a couple of different versions people have made.  There are even more on YouTube.

You are gone, but never forgotten.


Angel Flight Video by Radney Foster Featuring the C-130

Huge props to Radney Foster for writing such a moving song.

January 2, 2014 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Video of my Very First Actual Personnel Drop From the C-130

This was just before the first group jumped.

This was just before the first group jumped.

Every aviator has special moments in their career that they will always remember.  The first time they took the stick in their hands, the first time they soloed an aircraft, or the first time they took a loved one for a ride.  One of those events for me was my very first actual personnel drop from a C-130.

I will spare you the details and just let you check out the video.  My apologies that the video is not as clear as the picture.  My camera does not focus as well on video as it does on images.

 


 

 

August 5, 2013 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.