The 54th Helicopter Squadron at Minot AFB, N.D., has added new rescue hoists to two UH-1N Huey helicopters, enabling them to make rescues from terrain—and water—where the helicopters cannot land. SrA. Danny Monahan reports that all the unit needs now is to train more personnel with the new hoist. Last week, it had qualified only one pilot and one flight engineer. The qualification requires a “live hoist.”
Defense experts say the drone threat represents only part of a larger, looming problem: U.S. air bases in the Pacific are increasingly vulnerable to air attacks.