920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
10/26/2012 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla -- As Hurricane Sandy crept up the Atlantic coastline here blowing a mix of sand, rain and salt mist, 920th Rescue Wing Maintenance Airmen stuffed the wing's six HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters inside an aircraft hangar here to protect them from storm.
"A damaging wind warning was issued earlier," said Staff Sgt. Charles Washington, range weather forecaster, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. While Hurricane Sandy isn't expected to exceed a Category 1, the largest threat is in effect with sustained winds at 34 knots until 5 a.m. Saturday.
It will be the closest to Patrick at 185 miles east at 8 p.m. tonight, he said.
Although no flying was scheduled within the 920th RQW today, maintenance Airmen took precautions by policing light loose items in and around the flightline, in addition to mooring down the 920ths five HC-130P/N King fixed-wing aircraft by fastening chains to the tail, nose and wings to steel rings embedded into the ramp.
"We worked with the 920th Logistics Readiness Flight to put away deployment gear for the upcoming Readiness Exercise," said Chief Master Sgt. Armand Barrett, logistic superintendent, 920th Maintenance Operation Flight, in addition to the normal precautions.
Long before the storm's eye neared, maintenance Airmen drug one Pave Hawk out onto the open aircraft ramp to perform avionic systems operations checks. In between rain bands they huddled inside the aircraft during some of the more gusty conditions to, "get some work done today," said the Chief.
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