News>Weapon loaders compete for last time on F-117
Photos
Airman 1st Class Ray Wornat, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, works on a GBU-12, a 500 pound general purpose iron bomb, during a F-117A Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition Jan. 18, 2008, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The competition places the four best weapons load crews (two from the 8th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and two from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit) against each other to determine who the best load crew of the year is. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jamal D. Sutter)
Airman 1st Class Kyle Davey and Senior Airman Ignacio Hernandez of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare the GBU-12 for load during the Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan.18, 2008. This is the final Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition for the F-117A on Holloman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John D. Strong II)
Staff Sgt. Alberto Vazquez, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, preps a GBU-27 during a F-117A Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition Jan. 18, 2008, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The competition is the last for the F-117A as Holloman is scheduled to retire the Nighthawk and bring in the F-22A Raptor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jamal D. Sutter)
Senior Airman Arinda Murphy and Staff Sgt. Jose Cortez of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron move the GBU-27 from its stand during the Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan.18, 2008. This is the final Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition for the F-117A on Holloman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John D. Strong II)
Staff Sgt. Alberto Vazquez, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, preps a GBU-27 during a F-117A Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition Jan. 18, 2008, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The competition is the last for the F-117A as Holloman is scheduled to retire the Nighthawk and bring in the F-22A Raptor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jamal D. Sutter)
Airman Michael Bowens of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron secures the GBU-12 in the bomb door of the F-117A during the Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan.18, 2008. This is the final Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition for the F-117A on Holloman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John D. Strong II)
Staff Sgt. Alberto Vazquez and Senior Airman Adam Evans, both of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, load a GBU-12 during a F-117A Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition Jan. 19, 2008, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Seargent Vazquez, Airman Evans and teammate, Airman 1st Class Ray Wornat, represented the 8th Aircraft Maintenance Unit during the competition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jamal D. Sutter)
Staff Sgt. Jose Cortez tightens the screws on the GBU-27 during the Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan.18, 2008. This is the final Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition for the F-117A on Holloman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John D. Strong II)
Staff Sgt. Christopher Osterholm, 49th Maintenance Squadron, helps his teamate load a GBU-12 during a F-117A Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition Jan. 18, 2008, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Seargent Osterholm and teammates, Senior Airman Gino Colombari and Airman 1st Class Corey Carlson, represented the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jamal D. Sutter)
Senior Airman Ignacio Hernandez and Airman 1st Class Kyle Palmateer of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron perform their final checks on the GBU-27 during the Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan.18, 2008. This is the final Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition for the F-117A on Holloman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John D. Strong II)
Staff Sgt. Christopher Osterholm and Airman 1st Class Corey Colombari, both of the 49th Maintenance Squadron, discuss loading operations during a F-117A Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition Jan. 18, 2008, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The competition is the last for the F-117A as Holloman is scheduled to retire the Nighthawk and bring in the F-22A Raptor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jamal D. Sutter)
Senior Airman Ignacio Hernandez and Airman 1st Class Kyle Davey of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron finish their final check on the GBU-12 during the Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan.18, 2008. This is the final Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition for the F-117A on Holloman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John D. Strong II)
Airman 1st Class Corey Colombari and Staff Sgt. Christopher Osterholm, both of the 49th Maintenance Squadron, complete a checklist during a F-117A Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition Jan. 19, 2008, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The competition is the last of its kind for the F-117A Nighthawk. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jamal D. Sutter)
Staff Sgt. Jose Cortez of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron tightens a screw on the GBU-27 while Senior Airman Arinda Murphy looks during the Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan.18, 2008. This is the final Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition for the F-117A on Holloman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John D. Strong II)
Col. Jeffrey Harrigian, 49th Fighter Wing commander, gives closing remarks at the F-117A Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition Jan. 19, 2008, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The competition places the four best weapons load crews (two from the 8th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and two from the 9th Aircraft Maintenence Unit) against each other to determine who the best load crew of the year is. The competition is the last for the F-117A as Holloman is scheduled to retire the Nighthawk and bring in the F-22A Raptor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jamal D. Sutter)
by Airman 1st Class Jamal Sutter
49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
1/23/2008 - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (ACCNS) -- The final F-117A Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition gave an audience one last chance to witness Nighthawk load crews in action on Jan. 18. The competition placed 2006's quarterly winners against each other to determine which crew is the best of the year.
The competition consists of a consolidated tool kit inspection, a written examination, an AFI 36-2903 dress and appearance inspection and the actual loading of the munitions.
The Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition is designed to provide morale, build camaraderie and foster teamwork, said Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Snyder, 49th Fighter Wing weapons manager.
"The load competition was probably developed for bragging rights," he said.
Ironically, the winners of this year's event will have bragging rights to be matched by no one.
"The winner of this year's event will get to say they were the last and one of the best ever to load the F-117A," Chief Snyder said.
"It's a privilege and an honor to be here," said Senior Airman Gino Colombari, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "I'm glad to represent the weapons community for the last time."
Airman Colombari, who participated in the competition, qualified by winning the 2006 second quarter competition and showed displeasure in doing away with the Nighthawk, but was enthusiastic about Holloman's future.
"It's sad to see the F-117A go," he said. "But I am really excited to see the F-22 show up and what challenges it will present."
Once the F-117A is fully retired, Holloman will not maintain certified load crews and will no longer have the ability to host loading competitions, Chief Snyder said.
"The plans for the F-22A loading competitions could be similar to the current program," Chief Snyder added. "The wing will not have certified weapons load crews ready to load the F-22A until April or May 2009, depending on the timeline for the arrival of the F-22A. This could mean a weapons loading competition may not take place again on Holloman until late 2009."
"In the past years, we've always expected to go into the next year able to start fresh and shoot for bragging rights," said the chief. "Well, this year there is no next year for the F-117."
The winning crew will be announced during the Maintenance Group Maintenance Professional of the Year Banquet, which is scheduled for March.
