Wednesday, May 25, 2011

OH-58D Kiowa

OH-58D Kiowa. (Photo: Marinehawk12)

MH-53 Pave Low

An MH-53 Pave Low flies over the coastline near Hurlburt Field, Fla., Aug. 20. The helicopter, assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron, flies long-range missions for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces, and will retire in October. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

MH-53 Pave Low

A group of MH-53 Pave Low helicopters from the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., fly over a live-fire range June 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The medium-lift helicopter is the largest, most powerful and technologically advanced helicopter in the Air Force inventory. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Emily Moore)

MH-53 Pave Low

MH-53 Pave Low helicopters from the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., fly over a live-fire range June 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Pave Low's mission is low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Emily Moore)

MH-53 Pave Low

Air Force MH-53 Pave Low helicopters similar to this one are helping transport people from Lebanon to Cyprus. Long-range helicopters from the 352nd Special Operations Group at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, are operating from Akrotiri, Cyprus. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Andy M. Kin)

MH-53E Sea Dragon

Airmen with the 31st Security Forces Squadron and Italian carabinieri (state police) provide perimeter security for a U.S. Navy's MH-53E Sea Dragon during joint helicopter deployment training here recently. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bethann Caporaletti)

MH-53J Pave Low IIIE

A 58th Special Operations Wing, 551st Special Operations Squadron, MH-53J Pave Low IIIE flies a training mission. The MH-53J Pave Low IIIE heavy-lift helicopter is the largest, most powerful and technologically advanced helicopter in the Air Force inventory. The terrain-following and terrain-avoidance radar, forward-looking infrared sensor, inertial navigation system with global positioning system, along with a projected map display enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Dave Nolan)

MH-53J Pave Low III

The MH-53J Pave Low III heavy-lift helicopter is the largest, most powerful and technologically advanced helicopter in the Air Force inventory. The terrain-following and terrain-avoidance radar, forward-looking infrared sensor, inertial navigation system with global positioning system, along with a projected map display enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)

MH-53M Pave Low IV

An MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, flies over flooded Central Mozambique near the town of Chibuto as it refuels from an MC-130P "Shadow" from the 67th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall. The MH-53M Pave Lows are operating from Air Force Base Hoedspruit in South Africa, where they are deployed in support of Operation Atlas Response. Operation Atlas Response is a multi-national humanitarian relief mission helping displaced people in Central and Southern Mozambique that have been devastated by recent floods. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cary Humphries)

MH-53J Pave Low IIIE

A 58th Special Operations Wing, 551st Special Operations Squadron, MH-53J Pave Low IIIE flies a training mission here. The MH-53J's mission is to perform low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. The MH-53J Pave Low III heavy-lift helicopter is the largest and most powerful helicopter in the Air Force inventory, and the most technologically advanced helicopter in the world. Its terrain-following, terrain-avoidance radar and forward-looking infrared sensor, along with a projected map display, enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible. (Photo: U.S. Air Force /Master Sgt. Dave Nolan)

MH-53J Pave Low III

A 58th Special Operations Wing, 551st Special Operations Squadron, MH-53J Pave Low IIIE flies a training mission near Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. The MH-53J's mission is to perform low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. The MH-53J Pave Low III heavy-lift helicopter is the largest and most powerful helicopter in the Air Force inventory, and the most technologically advanced helicopter in the world. Its terrain-following, terrain-avoidance radar and forward-looking infrared sensor, along with a projected map display, enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Dave Nolan)

MH-53J Pave Low III

The MH-53J's mission is to perform low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. The MH-53J Pave Low III heavy-lift helicopter is the largest and most powerful helicopter in the Air Force inventory, and the most technologically advanced helicopter in the world. Its terrain-following, terrain-avoidance radar and forward-looking infrared sensor, along with a projected map display, enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible. The helicopter is equipped with armor plating, and a combination of three 7.62mm miniguns or .50 caliber machine guns. It can transport 38 troops or 14 litters and has an external cargo hook with a 20,000-pound capacity. The MH-53J has twin turbo-shaft engines; self-lubricating, all-metal main and tail rotors; and a large horizontal stabilizer on the tail rotor pylon's right side. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. John Lasky)

AW159 Lynx Wildcat

AW159 Lynx Wildcat. (Photo: AgustaWestland)

AW159 Lynx Wildcat

AW159 Lynx Wildcat. (Photo: AgustaWestland)

AW159 Lynx Wildcat

AW159 Lynx Wildcat. (Photo: AgustaWestland)

AW159 Lynx Wildcat

AW159 Lynx Wildcat. (Photo: AgustaWestland)

AW159 Lynx Wildcat

AW159 Lynx Wildcat. (Photo: Agusta Westland)

AW159 Lynx Wildcat

AW159 Lynx Wildcat first flight. (Photo: AgustaWestland)

AW159 Lynx Wildcat

AW159 Lynx Wildcat first flight. (Photo: AgustaWestland)

Mi-17

Mi-17 Afghanistan Air Force. (Photo: Afterburner.cz)

Mi-17

Mi-17 Afghanistan Air Force. (Photo: Afterburner.cz)