News Search

News

Laughlin T-1 aircrew takes gold at 2007 Air Mobility Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 47 FTW Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Cheering spectators stood on the edge of the overcast, windswept Laughlin flight line July 29 to welcome home four of the base's finest returning from the 2007 Air Mobility Rodeo.

The team of instructor pilots from the 86th Flying Training Squadron brought home one extra piece of luggage on their T-1 Jayhawk in the form of the "Best T-1 Aircrew" trophy.

Rodeo, hosted by Air Mobility Command, is a readiness competition between U.S. and international mobility air forces. It focuses on improving warfighting capabilities and support of the Global War on Terror.

In October 1956, 13 troop carrier wings of the Continental Air Command, the Air Force Reserve Command's predecessor, sent crews to participate in a "Reserve Troop Carrier Rodeo" at Bakalar AFB, Indiana. The first airdrop competition for units of the active-duty force occurred in April 1962, when the Military Air Transport Service held a MATS-wide Rodeo at Scott AFB, Illinois.

Laughlin's four competitors were "hand picked" to represent the squadron from a "wide body of qualified instructor pilots," said Lt. Col. John Cinnamon, 86th FTS, team leader.

Events in which the T-1 aircrews participated included simulated airdrops and air refueling, and instrument approach.

Maj. Tom Matschek, 96th Flying Training Squadron T-1 Flight commander, said the team was graded from the moment they arrived at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. After their initial approach, where the crew was evaluated on course guidance, speed, altitude control and planning, they took a fitness test, he said.

The team from Laughlin competed against other T-1 crews, and represented Laughlin well, Lieutenant Colonel Cinnamon said.

"We were competing against other T-1 bases, such as Columbus, Vance and Randolph," explained Capt. John Mirtich, 86th FTS. He said even though they didn't compete against actual airlift crews, they were held to the same stringent standards.

"We had to do everything exactly the same, up until the point where they called 'green light; drop the cargo,'" the captain explained. "[The competition] really put an emphasis on mission planning."


Most of the events were procedures instructor pilots practice every day with their students.

"How this team specifically got ready was Major Matschek took the reigns and made a training plan for these guys," Lieutenant Colonel Cinnamon explained. "He took them out on several sorties to practice the specific things we do different at the rodeo than we do every day here at the 86th."

According to Lieutenant Colonel Cinnamon, the "umpires" from the different bases competing said the Laughlin team was a notch above everyone else.

Captain Mirtich said bringing home the trophy for Laughlin felt great.
"We had a lot of good competition, going against the instructors who taught us," he said. "I think we set a higher standard for other bases."

Lieutenant Colonel Cinnamon said the two pilots who actually did the flying in the competition, Captain Mirtich and 1st Lt. Aaron Urbanovsky, were an example of the high level of professionalism at the 86th FTS.

"These guys are really no better than any of our line I.P.s," he explained. "Any one of the guys in our squadron could have brought home the gold just like these guys did. I'm proud to have flown with them."

Lt. Col. Cheryl Beineke, 86th FTS commander, said she was thrilled that her squadron brought home the gold.

"This is awesome," she beamed. "They represent everyone in the squadron. They teamed up to be the best, and validated that everyone in the squadron is the best."

Lieutenant Colonel Beineke said the experience was great not just in the spirit of competition, but for training as well.

"The main thing is they did go and compete, and showed everyone else what we can do, but the other thing is that they got to go there and work with the other T-1 squadrons, and they also got to see Air Mobility Command, where a lot of our students are going."

The colonel said winning the competition was a team effort, not only from the squadron, but the maintainers as well.

"They gave us a great airplane," she said. "They do that every day."

Even as gray clouds crept slowly over the horizon toward Laughlin, darkening the sky and threatening to burst open at any second, the mood on the flight line was celebratory as the trophy was passed around, hands were shaken and congratulations given.

The feeling was, as so many in attendance had already exclaimed, awesome.