Photo by: Lance Cpl. Randall A. Clinton Photo ID: 2006614154014 Submitting Unit: MCAS New River Photo Date:06/14/2006

Need a lift? 'Condors' carry Coast Guard jet

June 14, 2006; Submitted on: 06/14/2006 03:35:18 PM ; Story ID#: 2006614153518

By Lance Cpl. Randall A. Clinton, MCAS New River

A CH-53E 'Super Stallion,' home to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-464, hovers above the ground as Marines with 2d Marine Logistics Group, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, Landing Support Company, attach a decommissioned HU-25 Coast Guard jet.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. (June 14, 2006) -- From the west, they swoop down. The massive ?Condors? dominate the sky as they approach the ocean. Guided by buoys and Coast Guard ships, the front helicopter steadies its load over the ocean. Then, in an instant, it releases its cargo, allowing the disabled jet to plummet hundreds of feet to the ocean surface.

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-464 joined with the Coast Guard in a joint operation to create an artificial reef off the North Carolina coast June 8.

Two helicopters and a helicopter support team flew to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., where the HU-25 plane awaited its final destination. The plane had become unserviceable and was bound for a junkyard, said Col. Christopher S. Owens, Marine Aircraft Group-29 commanding officer.

Owens enjoyed the chance to help participate in a training exercise that keeps his Marines combat ready and helps out the local community.

While the CH-53E?s of HMH-464 can carry external loads, they mainly transport Marines to and from the fight, said Owens.

?It is something the ?53? community needs to do,? said Owens, who commented that the pilots used the mission as a simulation of a downed aircraft recovery.

By taking part in a joint operation, the squadron was able to further develop relationships with nearby commands, something that is always helpful, said Owens, who co-piloted the second helicopter in the mission.

The Marines were also able to help add to the local fishing and tourism industry by creating the artificial habitat, while saving the Coast Guard tens of thousands of dollars, said Owens, a former AH-1W ?Super Cobra? pilot.

While the pilots received a brief about carrying the plane, and the route they would take, the support Marines began preparing the plane for its final flight. The plane presented specific challenges for the Marines.

?There are no lift points, no set way to secure it,? said Sgt. Dan Botting, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, Combat Logistics Regiment-27, Landing Support Company, landing support specialist. ?It?s all feel.?

By securing it properly, the plane will fly nose down to prevent the aircraft from creating lift, he said.

This is the second year in which Marines have taken time to help out the Coast Guard Station. The arrangement works well by saving money that would be spent transporting the plane, and Marines get more training in a different environment, said Owens.

Captain Matthew Bellavar, HMH-464 pilot, said the water bulls and the vehicles the squadron transported on its last deployment were easier than the Coast Guard aircraft.

?It?s basically like picking up a brick, nothing aerodynamic,? he said.

Captain Foster Carlile, HMH-464 aircraft commander and section leader, has lifted more than 20,000 pounds of cargo in the past, so experience taught him to make some specific adjustments when carrying the 10,000 pound jet.

To adjust for the added weight, and the unusual shape of the plane, the pilots cut their speed to a slow crawl for more than an hour as helicopters reached the drop zone, said Carlile.

Carlile explained that the mission was a great learning opportunity for the team.

?The main thing for us was to do our checklist and check the calculations to make sure we had enough fuel to accomplish the task, but were light enough to make the lift.?