Airmen 
from Nellis AFB, Nev., worked alongside California Army National Guardsmen last month to remove thousands of pounds of debris from the site of a non-fatal F-15C crash on the grounds of the Nevada Test and Training Range. The F-15, which had departed Nellis on Oct. 24, crashed roughly 115 miles north of Las Vegas; the pilot ejected and was not injured. Once the safety investigation board concluded its initial review of the crash site, the Nellis and Army crews were able to begin cleaning up the site. As part of the clean-up, members of the 820th RED HORSE Squadron airborne flight conducted their first real-world sling-load operation. Using a sling attached to an Army CH-47 helicopter, they transferred 47,000 pounds of wreckage in six conex boxes to the Alamo airport about five miles away. (Nellis report by SMSgt. Richard Buchalski)
When an E-3 Sentry battle management aircraft was damaged in an Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, it sparked a host of questions about one of the Air Force’s oldest, smallest, but most critical fleets. Experts say the service doesn’t have many options to answer those questions.