Holloman team wins ‘Best in the West’ at Cannon

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The Holloman weapons load crew and bomb demonstration team were named "Best in the West" as they took first place at the Pioneer Air Festival at Cannon Air Force Base June 8. 

The Pioneer Air Festival was set up in conjunction with Pioneer Days, an annual event in Clovis, N.M., in order to demonstrate to the public what the Air Force does. The demonstration included a weapons load competition and a bomb drop on Melrose Range from many of the aircraft in the 12th Air Force inventory including F-16s, F-15s, A-10s, MC-130s and Holloman's very own F-117A Nighthawk. 

"These types of competitions are huge morale boosters," said Staff Sgt. William Coburn, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew member. "They bring camaraderie between all the airframe crews and a sense of competition of 'who will be the best.'" 

Team Holloman had the second fastest time in the competition, coming in after the F-15 team from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. 

"The load went extremely well," said Sergeant Coburn. "We put in a lot of practice ahead of time which made the load second nature." 

The load competition not only included the load time, but a dress and appearance inspection, a written knowledge test and an inspection of the composite tool kit. 

The CTK inspection goes back to the early days of weapons loading when each crew had their own tool box and had great pride in it, said Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Snyder, 49th Maintenance Group, wing weapons manager. 

For the competition, the Holloman load crew did a lot of preparing. 

"The teams practiced for two weeks," said Chief Snyder. "They went through the normal load process and the LSC (lead standardization crew) looked for ways to improve the times while still being within compliance." 

The team brought their time down from 24 minutes to 12 minutes and 26 seconds during the competition with the help of the LSCs and their "coach," Tech. Sgt. Kirtis Fisher, 49 AMXS weapons evaluator. 

The team also had to prepare to show off in style before arriving at Cannon AFB. They had the 49th Maintenance Squadron's corrosion control section paint two jammers, the bomb lift trucks, black, along with the -60 power units, said the chief. Also, desert camouflage uniforms were prepared for them by the aircrew flight equipment section in order for the Airmen to stand out against the black F-117. 

However, the preparation didn't only take place on home station. The team spent the entire day before the competition preparing the three F-117s. 

"These productions don't just happen," said Chief Snyder. "A lot of work and preparation goes into air fests and fly bys." 

Everyone who joined the load crew to Cannon AFB was there when the aircraft landed and helped clean it up and put it to bed for the night. 

Through this competition, the team did not only show off their skills, but how much the aircrew and the maintainers of the F-117A Nighthawk still care for the aircraft. 

"Even in retirement, we still have great, talented people who are not giving up at all," said Chief Snyder. "They are pressing forward with the mission and their jobs with pride." 

The F-117A static display was a main attraction at the festival. Many people from the local community and Airmen from other bases came to get a glimpse of the stealth fighter before its full retirement. 

The chief said he planned to give the first-place award to Col. Gary Bryson, 49th Maintenance Group commander, as a final gift before retirement. Colonel Bryson is set to retire at the end of this month. 

"I couldn't think of a better way to send Colonel Bryson out," said Chief Snyder. "And the whole team feels the same way."