Army Chinook airlifts fighter from Nellis to Creech

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Aileen Carter
  • 99th Air Base Wing
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  The world's slowest F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft, traveling less than 80 mph, landed at Creech from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. approximately 7:30 a.m., April 22.

The fighter was previously assigned to the 57th Wing and was suspended underneath an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter, assigned to the 1st of the 189th Aviation Company of the Nevada Army National Guard. In the Eagle's new home, it will be used as an aircraft trainer for Creech's fire department.

The fighter-turned-trainer (with no engines) will be used to help firefighters meet a quarterly pilot rescue and evacuation training. In this requirement, firefighters have up to 90 seconds to evacuate a pilot from a downed aircraft. This includes opening the aircraft canopy, shutting down the aircraft, and un-harnessing and evacuating the pilot, said James Drake, assistant chief of training/safety with Creech's fire emergency services.

Previously, to support this training for Creech's fire department, an F-15 Eagle fighter was flown to Creech from Nellis each quarter. This arrangement presented some logistical complications, according to Senior Master Sgt. Steven Fuentes, a 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Eagle Aircraft Maintenance Unit lead production superintendent.

"Providing an F-15 to Creech to facilitate training was not an easy task," said Sergeant Fuentes. "First, the aircraft had to be removed from the regular flying schedule, which meant less aircraft to support the training mission. Second, we had to provide maintainers to go up to Creech to ensure aircraft turn-around, which meant less people on the Nellis flight line. Third, 57th Wing Operations had to provide a pilot. Last but not least, if the aircraft had maintenance problems, we would have to provide a team to go recover the aircraft."

While assigned to the 57th Wing, the non-flying fighter was used to support training by the United States Air Force Weapons School, Sergeant Fuentes said.

"To be used as a trainer for the fire department at Creech, the fighter was reconfigured to ensure the safety for its new role and also safety during its airlift to Creech," Capt. Sean T. Scruggs said, 57th Wing aircraft maintenance officer and coordinator of this airlift from Nellis. "This included the removal of more than 50 components, which brought the aircraft's weight down to less than 18,000 pounds."

The Chinook helicopter can lift up to 26,000 pounds.

This airlift was an example of a joint operation by Airmen and Soldiers, serving to show how the Air Force needs other services to execute the mission, Captain Scruggs said.

"The Nevada Army National Guard is happy to have a good working relation with Nellis Air Force Base, and we continue to look forward to working with our Air Force partners," Maj. Roger Capps said, from the 1st of 189th Aviation Company of the Nevada Army National Guard and the CH-47 Chinook helicopter pilot of this airlift.

With the tail number 'CH 0093', this aircraft will be the first fighter designated for Creech. The only other 'CH' aircrafts are remotely piloted Predator and Reaper aircrafts.