Photo By Capt. Cheran Campbell | New York Air National Guard Airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing look at the new HH-60W...... read more read more
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FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. – The New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing made history on Sept. 12, receiving the Air National Guard's first-ever brand-new HH-60W Jolly Green II search and rescue helicopter. Sikorsky pilots flew the aircraft directly from the company's production facility in Stratford, Connecticut to F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base.
This event marks the beginning of a new era for the wing, Air Force Rescue, and specifically for the Air National Guard, according to Col. Shawn P. Fitzgerald, commander of the 106th Rescue Wing.
"Standing in front of the new Whiskey that was just delivered is pretty exciting," Fitzgerald said. "Being the first brand-new aircraft delivered to the Air National Guard is an incredible honor for us here in New York. It's exciting to think about what this means for the future of our unit and the rescue mission."
Tech. Sgt. James Bavaro, a quality assurance inspector with the 106th Maintenance Group, shared his connection to the new helicopter.
"This aircraft is very special to me because earlier this year, we scheduled a trip with about 15 maintainers from the 106th and another 15 from the 129th Rescue Wing in California," Bavaro said. "We visited the Sikorsky factory and saw this helicopter on the assembly line. We watched the entire process, from the first steps to the installation of the rotor blades. It was an outstanding experience.
Bavaro further explained his role as a quality assurance inspector, ensuring the safety and accuracy of maintenance procedures.
"My job is to ensure that our maintainers are doing their jobs properly and safely," he added. "I also handle the technical data for this aircraft, ensuring that everything is up to date and assets are well-maintained."
The HH-60W Jolly Green II offers concrete improvements over the HH-60G Pave Hawk. According to the Sikorsky website, these improvements include enhanced avionics for improved situational awareness, a larger internal fuel capacity for extended range, and superior hover capabilities for operations in challenging environments. These upgrades provide the 106th Rescue Wing with improved operational flexibility and greater safety for both crews and survivors.
On Aug. 30, the 106th Rescue Wing bid farewell to its last HH-60G Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopter. The aircraft departed for the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, commonly known as the aircraft "boneyard." This transition marked the wing's full pivot to the HH-60W..
According to Major Bart Moran, 106th Rescue Wing Maintenance Squadron Commander, the 106th Rescue Wing currently has four HH-60W helicopters and by June 2026, the wing will have a total of six HH-60Ws on the flightline, solidifying the fleets modernization.
The 106th Rescue Wing, based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, operates and maintains the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, and the HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter. The 106th Rescue Wing is home to a special warfare squadron with pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, specializing in rescue and recovery, and deploys for domestic and overseas operations.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2024 16:07 |
| Story ID: | 482065 |
| Location: | WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 641 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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