JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Maryland – U.S. Airmen assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, supported “The Berliner Helicopter: America’s Forgotten Helicopter” event at the College Park Aviation Museum, Feb. 21, 2026.
The squadron showcased a UH-1N “Huey” helicopter during Berliner Helicopter Day, an aviation-themed community event highlighting the history of vertical flight. The event featured interactive exhibits, aviation education activities and guest speakers, including Vietnam veteran pilots.
Airmen engaged with attendees by providing visitors the opportunity to view the aircraft up close, ask questions and learn about helicopter operations and the 1st HS’s mission.
“The mission of the 1st HS means we regularly train and operate in the local area,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Alex Wang, 316th Operation Group plans and programs officer. “Participating in events like these is a fantastic way to maintain our relationship with the local community and allow them to better understand how and what we do here. More importantly, it allows the local community to directly interact with the service members of these units that operate here.”
Events like Berliner Helicopter Day strengthen partnerships between the military and local community by connecting the public with Airmen and Air Force capabilities.
“It is difficult for the local community to see what we do every day due to the nature of our work,” said Wang. “Any dedicated public event is a fantastic opportunity to give our local community a peek behind the curtains to better understand what we do. The more we can engage with our local community, the stronger our relationship can grow.”
Berliner Helicopter Day celebrated the legacy of early helicopter development and honored the contributions of rotary-wing aviation.