Communicating with his crew

Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, speaks with UH-1N Iroquois helicopter pilots during an orientation flight April 8, 2015, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The flight allowed the colonel to familiarize himself with the areas Fairchild Airmen train off base for the full range of military operations conducted here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño)

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Hoist operations checklist

Staff Sgt. Chris, 36th Rescue Flight special mission aviator, runs the "hoist operators before pick up" checklist with Capt. Nate, 36th RQF pilot, prior to initiating hoist operations in a remote area during an orientation flight April 8, 2015, in Tacoma Valley, Wash. Chris and Nate showed Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, several procedures they execute when operating a UH-1N Iroquois helicopter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño)

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Starting hoist operations

Staff Sgt. Chris, 36th Rescue Flight special mission aviator, moves the hoist and forest penetrator toward the right door of the aircraft to start a hoist during an orientation flight with Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, April 8, 2015, at Tacoma Valley, Wash. The 36th RQF's mission is to support the activities of the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School through hands-on helicopter operations, support the National Search and Rescue Plan by providing assistance to local authorities and provide the Department of Defense with exceptionally qualified crewmembers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño)

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Positioning the helicopter for hoisting

Staff Sgt. Chris, 36th Rescue Flight special mission aviator, holds the forest penetrator and hoist pendant while waiting for the pilots to position the aircraft for a hoist during an orientation flight with Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, April 8, 2015, at Tacoma Valley, Wash. A forest penetrator and a hoist pendant are designed to assist and perform rescue operations in the water or land. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño)

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Commander watches as Airmen hoist

Staff Sgt. Chris, 36th Rescue Flight special mission aviator, works with the pilots to maneuver the UH-1N Iroquois helicopter while Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, observes during an orientation flight April 8, 2015, at Tacoma Valley, Wash. While the helicopter was in a 150-foot hover, Chris prepared to put the forest penetrator at the simulated survivor's feet to show McDaniel how hoisting procedures work. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño)

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Commander watches as Airmen hoist

Staff Sgt. Chris, 36th Rescue Flight special mission aviator, looks over the landing pad atop Sacred Heart Hospital to drop off a mock survivor during an orientation flight with Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, April 8, 2015, in downtown Spokane, Wash. McDaniel joined Chris and pilots, Capt. Nate and Maj. Jennings, to familiarize himself with the areas Fairchild Airmen train off base for the full range of military operations conducted here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño)

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Wing commander gets 'sky high' view of Fairchild, surrounding communities

Published April 14, 2015
By Senior Airman Janelle Patiño
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Airmen from the 36th Rescue Flight conducted an orientation flight in a UH-1N Iroquois helicopter for the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Commander, Col. Brian McDaniel, April 8. The flight allowed the colonel to familiarize himself with the areas Fairchild Airmen train off base for the full range of military operations conducted here.

The flight took him over Tacoma Valley, Washington, where Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training is executed and atop Sacred Heart Hospital in downtown Spokane, Washington to simulate transport of rescued patients.

The 36th Rescue Flight crew included Maj. Jennings, Capt. Nate and Staff Sgt. Chris.

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Communicating with his crew

Hoist operations checklist

Starting hoist operations

Positioning the helicopter for hoisting

Commander watches as Airmen hoist

Commander watches as Airmen hoist