FRIDAY FOTO (April 23, 2021)

Prepare to be Plucked.

(U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe) Click on photo to enlarge the image.

An MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter assigned to the Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) Squadron based at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada practices pinnacle landings and extractions during a mountain flying SAR training event. In this photo, taken April 8, 2021, Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Brandon Butler waits to be picked up by the helicopter.

The Navy currently has six dedicated “Station SAR” units around the United States: Lemoore SAR in California,  Fallon in Nevada,  Whidbey Island in Washington state, China Lake (VX-31) also in California, Pax River in Maryland and Key West in Florida.

Their primary mission is to provide search and rescue and first responder support to Fleet flight training operations for the jets in their designated areas of responsibility. Since 1996, Naval Air Station Fallon has been home to the Navy Fighter Weapons School, or TOPGUN, now known as the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC). Originally named Desert Angels and later renamed Longhorns, the Fallon SAR team’s mission is to provide SAR support for visiting Carrier Air Groups and other commands based at Fallon.

The station SARs also work closely with local first responder agencies for civilian SAR/MEDEVAC needs when not engaged in primary military duties. Other missions may include aerial firefighting and general utility helicopter operations.

The photo below shows mountain flying from a different perspective. A Longhorns Knighthawk conducts a “one wheel landing” (video) during another simulated SAR training exercise on  April 15. Click on the photo to enlarge the image and you’ll see a crew member’s legs dangling on the chopper’s far side.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan M. Breeden)