Hurricane Rita SAR Mission Goes on Standby: 
Air Force search and rescue crews working relief efforts after Hurricane Rita have stopped flying pre-planned sorties to find victims, but they are still waiting in the wings should they be needed. The Air Force SAR force, which includes nine HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and three HC-130s aerial refuelers, flew 23 sorties, making nine life-saving rescues, as of Sept. 26. USAF drew the crews and equipment from Air Force Special Operations Command’s 347th Rescue Wing, Moody AFB, Ga., Air Force Reserve Command’s 920th RW, Patrick AFB, Fla., as well as airmen from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and Nellis AFB, Nev.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.