Global Hawk eclipses 30,000 flying hours

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chuck Broadway
  • 9th RW Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., (ACCNS) --  On March 31 an RQ-4 Global Hawk took off to begin a 22-hour combat sortie and approximately two and a half hours into the flight, eclipsed the 30,000 hour mark for the Global Hawk program. 

The aircraft was assigned to the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron as part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. 

The mission was in support of the Global War on Terror and five different squadrons all played a part in piloting the historic flight. 

Capt. Fred Dohnke, a 99th ERS Global Hawk Launch and Recovery Element instructor, and Maj. Jason Dillon, a 99th ERS Global Hawk student pilot, manned the controls which launched and landed the aircraft during its recent flight. 

"Major Dillon brings a wealth of aviation and high-altitude Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance experience with him and has demonstrated remarkable skill transitioning to the RQ-4 program," said Maj. Jay Hubbard, the 99th ERS director of operations. "Since joining the RQ-4 program, Captain Dohnke's aviation expertise and skill as an instructor have moved the program forward by leaps and bounds. These are two of the Air Force's finest and it should be no surprise to anyone that such a historical moment happened on their watch."

Maintainers assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron also aided with the launch and recovery of the event. 

"I am fortunate to be a part of an organization who takes pride in what they do," said Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Green, the 380th EAMXS superintendent. "This group realizes that with every launch and recovery they are carving their names into the book of Air Force history." 

Maj. Ron Shivers, a 12th Reconnaissance Squadron Mission Control Element instructor pilot, and Capt. Gary Toroni, a 12th RS Global Hawk pilot, flew the aircraft when it surpassed the 30,000 hour mark. 

"The recent flight was a great milestone for the platform, the [9th Reconnaissance] Wing, and Air Force aviation in general," Capt. Toroni said. "I feel deeply proud that the 12th RS is able to extend its footprint into a new age of aviation history."

"It's a great honor to be part of a program that has been around for such a short period and yet accomplished so much," Major Shivers said. "I think this represents another significant milestone in the RQ-4s path to establishing itself as the pre-imminent high-altitude ISR platform in the Air Force and Department of Defense."

As the Global Hawk continues to fly and be the Air Force's premier Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircraft, many more milestones are sure to be surpassed. With a future a bright as the RQ-4's, the ISR history books will have plenty of pages added in the coming years.