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Video: Flying Sergeants

Jan. 10, 2019
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Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance is the most requested capability by combat commanders, and for more than a year, enlisted airmen have been helping the Air Force meet this demand by flying the RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft.

Instructor pilot monitors a training simulator flight.
Instructor pilot monitors a training simulator flight.
Qualification Rounds
Keith Pannabecker, a remotely piloted aircraft qualification instructor pilot, left, monitors a training mission using the T-6 Flight Simulator with Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ben, an enlisted RPA pilot student, at the 558th Flying Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, July 17, 2018. Both officer and enlisted RPA student pilots spend 85 days in the RPA Instrument Qualification Course and 30 days in the RPA Fundamentals Course at the 558th FTS during the second phase of the Air Education and Training Command’s RPA pilot curriculum. Last names have been removed and obscured for operational security considerations.
Download: Full Size (1.61 MB)
Credit: Bennie J. Davis III
VIRIN: 180717-F-VY627-005C
An RQ-4 Global Hawk.
An RQ-4 Global Hawk.
Global Hawk
An RQ-4 Global Hawk on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The RQ-4 is a high-altitude, long-range, unmanned and remotely piloted aircraft dedicated to the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.
Download: Full Size (1.35 MB)
Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel
VIRIN: 180313-F-CH060-1071C
Instructors and students review training video.
Instructors and students review training video.
Pilot Training
Remotely piloted aircraft qualification instructor pilots and student pilots review the training mission schedules of the the T-6 Flight Simulator at the 558th Flying Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, July 17, 2018. Both officer and enlisted RPA student pilots spend 85 days in the RPA Instrument Qualification Course and 30 days in the RPA Fundamentals Course at the 558th FTS during the second phase of the Air Education and Training Command’s RPA pilot curriculum. Last names have been removed and obscured for operational security considerations.
Download: Full Size (4.08 MB)
Credit: Bennie J. Davis III
VIRIN: 180717-F-VY627-001C
Air Force major trains enlisted pilot students.
Air Force major trains enlisted pilot students.
Fundamentals Course
Air Force Maj. Michael, a remotely piloted aircraft fundamentals course instructor pilot, right, discusses a training mission using the Predator Reaper Integrated Mission Environment simulator with Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ben, an enlisted pilot student, and Air Force Staff Sgt. James, a basic sensor operator course instructor at the 558th Flying Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, July 17, 2018. Both officer and enlisted RPA student pilots spend 85 days in the RPA Instrument Qualification Course and 30 days in the RPA Fundamentals Course at the 558th FTS during the second phase of the Air Education and Training Command's RPA pilot curriculum. Last names have been removed and obscured for operational security considerations.
Download: Full Size (2.26 MB)
Credit: Photo by: J.M. Eddins Jr.
VIRIN: 180717-F-LW859-179C

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