Airmen of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing at Frances S. Gabreski Field, N.Y., volunteered to test a new aerial rescue basket. The new Heli-Basket, designed to be used with rescue helicopters, can carry up to 15 people—once it’s certified for people, that is. The Army in 2003 certified the basket for cargo use with its Black Hawk helicopter, so the Air Force accepted that OK for use with its HH-60 Pave Hawk helos. The test with the 106th RW was the first time the basket had been used to carry people.
Loved Ones Mourn 6 Airmen Killed in KC-135 Crash
March 16, 2026
Tributes to the six crew members that died in the KC-135 Stratotanker crash in Iraq have flooded social media since the Pentagon released their identities March 14. They were the first Airmen to die while supporting Operation Epic Fury against Iran.