Afghan airmen perform Mi-17 sling load

by Capt. Rob Leese
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

7/6/2010 - KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Afghan airmen and Combined Air Power Transition Force advisers conducted an operational sling load with an Mi-17 transport helicopter July 1 from Kabul International Airport to Forward Operating Base Orgun-e, Afghanistan in the Paktika province.

Flying 12,500 feet above sea-level and carrying a 3,200-pound crate, the Mi-17 handled the load with very few problems. This allows the Afghan air force's 377th Helicopter Squadron members another way to move heavy and oversized equipment or to deliver the equipment in a place without a landing zone.

"The Afghans could actually sling load a lot of heavier or bigger equipment, something that they couldn't put on a C-27 (Spartan) or an AN-32 (Airlifter) or even load into the Mi-17," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Marsh, a master rigger. "They could sling load this equipment into a location and get the resource and supplies to the people there that need it."

In the future, the sling load capability will open up even more opportunities to the Afghan air force and allow airmen to deliver equipment almost anywhere the Mi-17 travels.