MH-60G Pave Hawk, #26009, has made its final flight on May 5 with Maj. Gen. Chad P. Franks, 15th Air Force commander, at the controls.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Chad P. Franks, 15th Air Force commander, and crew taxi the retirement flight for the MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter at Hurlburt Field, Florida, May 5, 2021. Major General Franks flew the very same MH-60 Pave Hawk during Operation ALLIED FORCE, rescuing a downed F-117 pilot from enemy territory; in 1999, during the operation, the helicopter belonged to the 55th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field. The helicopter is to be displayed at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Robyn Hunsinger)
Gen. Franks flew the same helicopter in the rescue of Lt. Col. Darrell Patrick “Dale” Zelko, who was shot down in his F-117 over Yugoslavia in 1999.
Entering service in 1989, #26009 has accumulated 11,000 flight hours and will be retired to the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park.
