Air Guard's 106th Rescue Wing flies new rescue helicopter for the first time

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NEW YORK (08/08/2024) (readMedia)-- The 106th Rescue Wing's first HH-60W Jolly Green II search and rescue helicopter made its first flight from Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, on Sunday, August 4.

The new helicopters will replace the six HH-60G-Pave Hawk helicopters the wing has been operating.

Outwardly the new helicopter looks like the Pave Hawk. Both are based on the UH-60 helicopter first flown by the Army.

The HH-60W, known as the "whiskey" by Airmen, has improved communications, navigation and defensive systems. The new aircraft is also slightly faster and has greater range before needing to refuel than the HH-60G.

The new version of the HH-60 rescue helicopter takes its nickname of "Jolly Green II" from the Sikorsky HH-3 helicopters search and rescue wings used from the 1960s until 1991. The aircraft was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant because of its size and color, according to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

The 106th received its first two HH-60W's, reassigned from active duty, in June. The remaining four helicopters will be delivered directly from the Sikorsky Aircraft plant and the unit will be fully transitioned to the new model by June of 2025.

The Air Force began flying the HH-60W operationally in 2022.

Lt. Col. James Liston, the first 106th pilot to qualify on the new helicopter, said it was an honor to pilot the first flight.

"Being the first and being able to teach everyone here at the 106th is a privilege and a welcome responsibility," Liston said.

"I am absorbing everything I can with the Whiskey program both from Sikorsky, what active duty has done over the last few years, and my test experience so that I can bring that knowledge here and help set the 106th up for success," he added.

The first flight was taken over the north shore of Long Island where Liston demonstrated the automatic approach and hover functions that the aircraft has both over land and water.

Liston utilized the Electro-Optical/InfraRed camera to demonstrate its effectiveness in being able to locate and keep eyes on survivors or threats as necessary.

According to Liston, the capabilities of the new model will greatly enhance the 106th's combat search and rescue mission.

The upgraded avionics suite will enable better navigation in adverse weather conditions, while the new communication system will provide clearer communication with military and civilian agencies, said Liston.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Devito, a special missions aviator at the 106th, also known as a SMA, said the new aircraft are much more capable.

"There are a lot more tools at our disposal, specifically for us SMAs," Devito explained.

"I have higher situational awareness and am more of an operator now. Every hour that we log on the Whiskey, we learn new capabilities. We have more tools to conduct combat search and rescue more effectively, efficiently, and safely," he said.

The 106th plans on completing aircrew training on the new model by March 2025 and more aircrew will be completing their initial training on the new model this summer with local training beginning at the end of September, Liston explained.

"It's a really awesome feeling being a part of the first team at the 106th to fly the Whiskey," Devito said.

"I feel honored to have been a part of the HH-60G leaving and now being the first one on a Whiskey, and I'll have that for my whole career which is awesome."

The 106th Rescue Wing, based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, operates and maintains the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, and the HH-60G Pave Hawk and HH-60W "Jolly Green II" rescue helicopters. The 106th Rescue Wing is home to a special warfare squadron with pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, specializing in rescue and recovery, and deploys for domestic and overseas operations.