Team Hickam aircrew nails initial landing

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Melanie McLean
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Team Hickam started off Air Mobility Command Rodeo 2007 on the "right wheels," landing the several-ton C-17 within the second of their projected time.

The pressure was on from the 29-member-crew's 3:30 a.m. take off from Hickam until landing here around 12:30 p.m. local time.

With high hopes for this rookie team, having a C-17 fleet for just over a year, Maj. Landon Henderson, 535th Airlift Squadron, said, "I think we nailed it," as loadmaster Staff Sgt. Allen Culbreth counted down until the wheels hit pavement.

Sergeant Culbreth was a second behind the actual count, but the pilots, Maj. Jason Mills, aircraft commander, Capt. Todd Strickland and Maj. Anthony Davis were right on the money, according to Major Henderson.

"Having started this journey 10 hours ago, landing within a half a second is fabulous," said Major Henderson. "And now we have five days to demonstrate with precision and accuracy what we've been practicing for months."

This precision landing earned Team Hickam100 points out of a possible 100 for the arrival landing portion of the competition-- one of the many scored events of the week.

The week's events will not only challenge Hickam's aircrew, but also the total-force Team Hickam-- aerial port, aircraft maintenance, and security forces teams, comprised of the 15th Airlift Wing and the 154th Wing of the Hawaii Air National Guard.

"The fact that we had so many allies and friends that came to join us in this great competition, I can't tell you what that means to me as the leader of U.S. mobility air forces," said Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, commander of Air Mobility Command at the opening ceremony. "While teams compete against each other to determine the best of the best, they also collaborate and share their best practices."

Opening ceremonies kicked off the event Sunday morning with the introduction of the competitors and observers from the United States and 34 other countries, making this the largest Air Mobility Rodeo in history.

In addition to General McNabb, Brig. Gen. Kip Self, Rodeo 2007 commander, and Col. Jerry Martinez, host commander, welcomed the teams and observers with a rodeo-style cavalry flag presentation and a special precision-parachutist presentation of the American flag by two members of the base's 22nd Special Tactics Squadron.