Coast Guard Air Station Houston aircrew members attach an external load to an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter during training at Ellington Field in Houston, Feb. 19, 2026. External load training, commonly referred to as “rocks and blocks,” is part of a pilot’s initial flight syllabus and requires crews to practice flying with weighted loads, simulating the movement of buoys or other equipment weighing up to 2,000 pounds. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Perry Shirzad)
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