Hercules [Image 5 of 10]

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

04.04.2006

Photo by Lance Cheung 

United States Air Forces Central         

From a bubble observation window, the exterior and interior of the aircraft can be seen at the same time. The flight deck crew (left-right) Lt. Gary Hartzenberg scans the area to the port side of the CC-130 Hercules; Capt. Paul Anderson, pilots the aircraft into several 3-G tactical turns just hundreds of feet over a high desert region of Afghanistan; Sgt Marc Pilon, flight engineer, ensures all systems are set and functioning properly; Capt. Diane Baldasaro, maintains radio communication with airspace controllers in the region and remains ready to assume aircraft control if needed; Capt David Burneau, puts his navigation duties aside to keep an extra set of eyes looking for dangers on the starboard side of the aircraft. The entire crew is deployed to Tactical Airlift Unit, Royal Canadian Air Force, Southwest Asia, from 435/436 Squadron, Canada. The unit receives support from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia. Together they work to support security operations by participating in several key venues, with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). ISAF's primary role is to support the Government of Afghanistan in providing and maintaining a secure environment in order to facilitate the re-building of Afghanistan. ISAF integrates its efforts with the highest levels of authority at the Government of Afghanistan, with the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA), with the Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan, the US-led Coalition, and with other actors of the international community.

• Date Taken: 04.04.2006
• Date Posted: 05.15.2006 10:12
• Photo ID: 20236
• Resolution: 2848x4288
• Size: 5.44 MB
• Location: KABUL, AF