U.S. Air Force Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing, left, and Lt. Col. Thomas Lang, assistant to 1st SOW vice wing commander, right, make a dynamic turn over a forest in southern Alabama Sept. 19, 2012. The UH-1N’s primary mission includes airlift of emergency security and disaster response forces, support for school training and testing, and airlift for distinguished visitors and missile support people, according to the aircraft’s factsheet on the Air Force website. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman First Class Nigel Sandridge)
U.S. Air Force Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing, prepares his flight equipment before takeoff in a UH-1N helicopter at an air field in southern Alabama Sept. 19, 2012. Slife made sure all equipment properly functioned before the aircraft’s departure. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman First Class Nigel Sandridge)
U.S. Air Force Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing, flies a UH-1N helicopter over a beach in Navarre, Fla., Sept. 19, 2012. As base commander and an MH-53 helicopter pilot himself, Slife had the honor of piloting the last Huey flight from Hurlburt Field. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman First Class Nigel Sandridge)
The aircrew of a UH-1N prepares for a sharp tactical maneuver over a forest in southern Alabama Sept. 19, 2012. The UH-1N belonged to 6th Special Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman First Class Nigel Sandridge)
(From left to right) U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mark Schroeder, flight scheduling NCO of 6th Special Operations Squadron, Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing, Lt. Col. Thomas Lang, assistant to 1st SOW vice wing commander, and Senior Master Sgt. Clint Grizzell, superintendent of 6th SOS, stand in front of a UH-1N helicopter on an air field in southern Alabama Sept. 19, 2012. The crew took part in the final flight of the UH-1N helicopter from Hurlburt Field. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman First Class Nigel Sandridge)
10/1/2012 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- It's been a fixture on the base's flightline for decades, marked by its noticeable difference in design from the larger C-130s and elaborate CV-22s operated by 1st Special Operations Wing Airmen.
Yet perhaps now the only way one can see a UH-1 Huey at Hurlburt Field will be the one honored in the base's Airpark.
The final flight of Huey, one of the aircraft flown by combat aviation advisers of 6th Special Operations Squadron, took place Sept. 19 over the Emerald Coast and southern Alabama.
Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st SOW, piloted the Huey on the flight accompanied by select Airmen from the squadron.
According to the aircraft's factsheet, the Huey has been the most popular light utility helicopter ever produced, with some variant being operated by the military in nearly 60 nations.
