← Military & Defence

Helicopters in Military Training

Diverse military helicopters in action, conducting drills and missions in various terrains, showcasing the capabilities of air support.

January 23, 2007 - A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter conducts carrier qualification evolution aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5), while under way in the Mediterranean Sea.
January 23, 2007 - A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter conducts carrier qualification evolution aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5), while under way in the Mediterranean Sea.
358 assets in this story
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U.S. Soldiers assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and 21st Theater Sustainment Command teams prepare for extraction using an U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 10, 2022. Teams from across U.S. Army Europe and Africa test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad. Winners of this competition will advance to represent U.S. Army Europe and Africa at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Bragg, North Carolina later this year.
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CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - U.S. Army aviators from 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia National Guard, conduct sling load training for non-aviation Soldiers at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Aug. 8, 2022. Liaison Monitoring Team Soldiers from Kosovo Forces Regional Command East underwent the training in order to learn how to safely conduct sling load operations, allowing for the rapid insertion of supplies and equipment even in the most remote of locations.
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NAVAL BASE GUAM, Santa Rita, Guam (Feb. 14, 2023) Navy Cargo Handling Battalion Sailors, operating under Commander, Task Force 75 and Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, conduct a Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) evolution during Cope North 2023 at Naval Base Guam, Feb. 14, 2023. The multilateral training event brings togetherapproximately 1,000 U.S. Airmen, Marines, and Sailors alongside 1,000 combined Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and French Air and Space Force service members. Exercises like Cope North enhance interoperability among multiple mission areas, and focus on trilateral airborne integration, large-force employment, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
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Alaska Army National Guard Capt. Cody McKinney, left, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Miller, pilot a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter through the Chugach Mountains while supporting sling-load training near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Feb. 28, 2024. U.S. Army Soldiers from the Alaska Army National Guard Aviation Battalion conducted the sling-loaded training to enhance their ability to operate in Alaskas harsh environment. (Alaska National Guard
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U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct flight operations during Resolute Dragon 22 at Yausubetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 13, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.
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Maintainers assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard, prepare one of the wings HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters for operations at Campo Grande, Brazil on August 21, 2022. The aircraft was shipped to Brazil on board a C-17 flown by the New York Air National Guards 105th Airlift Wing to participate in Exercise Tapio, a combined Brazilian- U.S. irregular warfare exercise. The New York Air National Guard dispatched 100 Airmen from the two wings to participate as part of the State Partnership Program relationship with Brazil,
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Photos from Aviation Training Center, Mobile - 26-HK-422-51. Hurricane Katrina
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Vietnam, Hue. Military Museum, Vietnam War-era, US Army, UH-i, Huey helicopter
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A Mi-24V Hind helicopter of the Macedonian Air Force during a training sortie.
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A UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Alpha Company, 2-158 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade prepares to land in Baturaja, Indonesia on Aug. 8, 2022. The aircraft was shuttling a multi-national infantry force as part of a field training exercise during Super Garuda Shield 22. Super Garuda Shield, a part of Operation Pathways and a longstanding annual, bilateral military exercise conducted between the U.S. military and Indonesia National Armed Forces, reinforces the U.S. commitments to our allies, and regional partners, joint readiness, and the interoperability to fight and win together.
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A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, is staged at a forward arming and refueling point during Assault Support Tactics (AST-4), Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-23, near Twentynine Palms, California, Oct. 25, 2022. AST-4 provides prospective WTIs the opportunity to plan, brief, and execute a night, long range battalion air assault to multiple objectives simultaneously in a medium threat environment while conducting five of the six functions of Marine Aviation.
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221004-N-IL330-1104 PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 4, 2022) - An MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 (Reinforced) lands on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7) Oct. 4, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
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U.S. Soldiers with 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division set up security after dismounting a U.S. Army UH60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to 12th Combat Aviation Brigade during Vigilant Fox, a joint training exercise including Finnish soldiers and British soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, Rifles Regiment, at Niinisalo, Finland, July 27, 2022. The 3/4th ABCT is among other units assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, proudly working alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America's forward deployed corps in Europe.
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A UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Alpha Company, 2-158 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade takes off in Baturaja, Indonesia on Aug. 8, 2022. The aircraft was shuttling the multi-national infantry force as part of a field training exercise during Super Garuda Shield 22. Super Garuda Shield, a part of Operation Pathways and a longstanding annual, bilateral military exercise conducted between the U.S. military and Indonesia National Armed Forces, reinforces the U.S. commitments to our allies, and regional partners, joint readiness, and the interoperability to fight and win together.
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An HH-60 Pave Hawk assigned to the 331st Air Expeditionary Group at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, sits in the street during operations in Galveston, Texas, after Hurricane Ike came ashore. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr.)
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U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing conduct landing drills with MV-22B Ospreys on Camp Betsukai, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 12, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains
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A U.S. Marine MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, approaches a landing zone as part of an air assault during Steel Knight 23 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 5, 2022. Steel Knight is an annual combined arms live-fire exercise which ensures 1st MARDIV is optimized for naval expeditionary warfare in contested spaces, and is purpose-built to facilitate future operations afloat and ashore.
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A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook offloads pallets during a U.S. Southern Command Situational Assessment Team capability exercise at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Jan. 9, 2024. The S-SAT is a quick-reaction deployable team comprised of experts that provide the commander of the U.S. Southern Command an immediate assessment of conditions and unique requirements needed during a Humanitarian Assistance or Disaster Response event in the Central America AOR.
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220509-N-VJ326-2054 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 9, 2022) - Sailors conduct maintenance on an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 in the hangar bay aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 9, 2022. Tripoli is underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet.
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PEARL HARBOR (July 14, 2022) A UH-60 belonging to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade lands near the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) camp to transport the wounded as part of Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, July 14. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Suga Tatsuya)
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U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, load a CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, while they conduct an air-insertion during Resolute Dragon 22 on Shikaribetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 6, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.
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Coast Guard on Scene Damages - 26-HK-82-36. CG On Scene Damages--Chinook helicopter hoisting sand bag from pile, dated 9 3 2005. Hurricane Katrina
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A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Charlie Company, 2-158 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. on May 19, 2022.
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U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct flight operations during Resolute Dragon 22 at Yausubetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 13, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.
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SGT. Mark Gasoway, left, and SGT. D.C. Peterlinz stand by at the Marine command post near a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter prior to flying a mission in support of Operation Provide Comfort, an Allied effort to aid Kurdish refugees who fled the forces of Saddam Hussein in northern Iraq. Both men are crew chiefs with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 (HMM-264), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Subject Operation/Series: PROVIDE COMFORT Base: Zakhu Country: Iraq(IRQ)
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U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252 refuel an MV-22B Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162, via air-delivered ground refueling at Blackstone Army Airfield, Virginia, Nov. 16, 2022. VMGR-252 provided assault support to Naval Special Warfare Group 2 during Exercise Trident 23-2 to enhance combat readiness and improve naval integration. VMGR-252 and VMM-162 are subordinate units of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.
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U.S. Navy Reserve members assigned to the Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 1A (MSRON), San Diego, California, participate in the personnel recovery exercise Bull Shark, Port Djibouti, Djibouti, June 21, 2022. Exercise Bull Shark is a personnel recovery exercise involving members of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and the European Union Naval Force aimed to strengthen interoperability between like-minded partners in the region; members of the Spanish Armed Forces and Djibouti Armed Forces also participated in the exercise this iteration.
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CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters and MV-22B Ospreys land aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, June 18. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, boarded the aircraft to be flown to various training areas on base. The II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing are conducting Exercise Mailed Fist throughout the week resulting in a surplus of aircraft available for training purposes and aerial infantry operations.
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DF-ST-89-00555. Base: Unknown
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Arrival Ceremonies for Urho Kekkonen, President of Finland, 11:00 AM. Arrival ceremonies for Urho Kekkonen, President of Finland. United States Marine Corps helicopter. Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
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030404-F-2034C-016. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: CENTCOM
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Marine commandos of Indian Navy doing mock demonstration how to rescue during flood situations also naval helicopter Sea King at INS Kunjali at Colaba in Bombay Mumbai Maharashtra India Copyright: xManoejxPaateel/DinodiaxPhotox
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Miscellaneous - Katrina and Rita - 26-HK-431-218. Hurricane Katrina
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Photos from Aviation Training Center, Mobile - 26-HK-427-6. Hurricane Katrina
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110828-N-NY820-171PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Aug. 28, 2011) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 transports Rear Adm. Steven Ratti, U.S. Southern Command director of operations, from a temporary medical site at the Killick Coast Guard Base during Continuing Promise 2011. Continuing Promise is a five-month humanitarian assistance mission to the Caribbean, Central and South America.
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Soldiers with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, North Dakota Army National Guard, begin unloading gear for hot-cold litter carry exercise during the Golden Coyote Training Exercise at Camp Rapid, South Dakota, June 14, 2022. Golden Coyote is a three-phase, scenario-driven exercise conducted in South Dakota and Wyoming, which enables commanders to focus on mission essential task requirements, warrior tasks and battle drills, including performing a hot-cold litter carry.
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ESU New Orleans - 26-HK-137-157. Hurricane Katrina
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060430-A-6365W-325. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Forward Operating Base Remagen State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 101ST
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An Alouette III lands on an open field surrounded by trees.
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A UH-60 Black Hawk (Blackhawk) helicopter comes in to land in a field near Coco Solo High School, where 2nd Plt., Co. B, Task Force 2-27, reinforced by four 81mm mortars, is conducting mortar drills within sight of a Panamanian Defense Force (PDF) barracks. The helicopter is carrying a quick reaction force that will reinforce 2nd Platoon as part of a readiness exercise. Base: Coco Solo State: Canal Zone Country: Panama (PAN)
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The Joint Base MDL conducted a Postal Warrior Training Mission on 10 August 2022 which was conducted by the 78th Training Division. This training event was on Fort Dix Site IR3C. Multiple Army Reserve Units from the states of New York, Georgia and California were on-site for this training. The U.S. ASA Fort Dix Commander COL Mitchell Wisniewski, Joint Base Commander COL Wes Adams (AF) and the Army Reserve CSM, CSM Andrew Lombardo were in attendance. They all had observed the training from the ground and also in-flight during the soldiers training. The flights were provided by the 773rd Marine Light Attack Helicopter on a UH1 Cobra Helicopter. Postal Warrior is a task-focused exercise for Postal Units to support Postal Operations in a combat area when needed. During this training Units are being prepared for delivering mail during possible small arms or sniper fire from enemy while carrying out their mission. (Images provided by the Fort Dix (TSC) Training Support Center / Dan Amburg /
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A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 conducts low altitude tactics (LAT) training in vicinity of Northern Japan, Oct. 13, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms and maneuver across multiple domains.
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A CH-53D Sea Stallion speeds its way over a Haitian village to an objective as part of a weapons seizure at Grande Riviere during Operation Uphold Democracy. Subject Operation/Series: UPHOLD DEMOCRACY Base: Grand Riviere Du Nord Country: Haiti (HTI)
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Afghanistan, Bagram, Bagram Airfield, United States Army Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopter undergoing maintenance
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A CH-47 Chinook” helicopter from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard emplaces a large sand bag in the spillway of the Guajataca Dam on Oct. 9, 2017. The Soldiers are working to stabilize the dam’s spillway in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Puerto Rico Army National Guard in response to the effects of Hurricane Maria. (36th Infantry Division
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U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing conduct landing drills with a CH-53E Super Stallion at Yausubetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Sept. 30, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.
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Crew of a Boeing Apache AH-64D combat helicopter.
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060705-N-7981E-114. Base: Pearl Harbor State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Operation Ranch Hand was a U.S. Military operation during the Vietnam War; lasting from 1962 until 1971. It was part of the overall herbicidal warfare program during the war called 'Operation Trail Dust'. Ranch Hand involved spraying an estimated 20 million US gallons of defoliants and herbicides over rural areas of South Vietnam in an attempt to deprive the NLF (Viet Cong) of vegetation cover and food. Areas of Laos and Cambodia were also sprayed to a lesser extent. Nearly 20,000 sorties were flown between 1961 and 1971.
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An aircrew guides a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft in for a landing July 13, 2022, at Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport at Fort McCoy, Wis. In a rare training event at Fort McCoy, aircrew with the Marine Corps Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., flew a pair of MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft July 12-14 at the installation for aerial gunnery training at the impact area on North Post.
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CH-47 Chinook helicopter crewmembers of Company B, team up with petroleum supply specialists of Company E, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, to refuel an M1 Abrams tank from Company C, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, during a jump forward area refueling point (FARP) training exercise at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Jan. 21, 2018. The jump FARP training allowed both units to familiarize themselves with the capabilities of the Chinooks extended range fuel system and forward area refueling equipment kit for future operations during Allied Spirit VIII.
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Photos from Aviation Training Center, Mobile - 26-HK-428-37. Hurricane Katrina
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LEEUWARDEN, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 11 2016: Chinook CH-47 military helicopter in action during a demonstration flight on june 11, 2016 in Leeuwarden
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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo arrives in Bern, Switzerland, on May 31, 2019, via a Swiss military helicopter.
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Bangladeshi military members retreat from a Bangladesh Air Force helicopter after loading a staged casualty during a staged earthquake as part of a field training exercise demonstration for a more realistic show of Bangladeshs response task forces during Bangladeshs Pacific Resilience Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange (DREE) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nov. 2, 2022. This multinational DREE focuses on civil-military collaboration for disaster preparedness and response between the U.S. Army Pacific Command, the Bangladesh Armed Forces Division, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and other organizations and countries.
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Col. Shane Finison, commander of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, flies an AH-64E Apache helicopter near Mount Rainier, Wash. on Jul. 11, 2022. This was the final flight for Col. Finison as the brigade commander.
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U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing conduct landing drills with MV-22 Ospreys at Yausubetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Sept. 30, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.
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Tennessee printed on the side of a helicopter at Grayling Army Airfield, Grayling Mich., Aug. 08 2022. This picture during Northern Strike 22-2. Northern Strike is designed to challenge over 7,400 service members with multiple forms of training that advance interoperability across multicomponent, multinational and interagency partners.