Air Force Reserve Command pararescuemen joined Royal Canadian Air Force search-and-rescue technicians for a week of SAR and parachute training in the Canadian northwest. “The purpose was to work with our Canadian brethren, the SAR techs [and] see how they do business,” said MSgt. Wes Hufnagel, non-commissioned officer in charge of the 308th Rescue Squadron at Patrick AFB, Fla. In addition to combined SAR activities in Yellowknife, Northwest Territory, the crews practiced confined-space parachute landings in Comox, British Columbia, during the July 15-22 exercise, according to an Aug. 6 Patrick release. “We don’t normally do that on home station, so it was definitely good to get exposed to that,” said Hufnagel. Jumping from an RCAF CC-115 Buffalo, the Patrick airmen tried the SAR tech’s newly developed “tree suits,” which are designed to protect against injury in wooded landing zones. (Comox report by SSgt. Anna-Marie Wyant)
Work Has Begun to Adapt Qatari 747 to Fly as Air Force One
Sept. 15, 2025
The Air Force has started modifying a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar for "executive airlift," a spokesperson said Sept. 15. President Donald Trump has said he wants to fly the jet as “Air Force One” since new presidential transports, held up by delays, won't be ready until after his term…