June 24, 2006 The "American Heroes Air Show" is an admission-free event that features helicopters in law enforcement, fire service, search and rescue, military and many civic roles.  The event usually features a career fair, and a "code 3" caravan of privately owned emergency vehicles. Our fire lookout association was invited to participate by providing a booth.
	What seems to be the start of a very hot summer, the temperature was 100 degrees by 10am and would hit a high of 108 degrees by  2pm.  It was very hot and sticky as the humidity was high also. Susan helps set up the booth by putting one of the So. Mt. Hawkins shirts on the booth.
	George and Pam arrived early and did a great job setting up the booth.  George made a new Osborne stand, and he brought with him his 1957 Dodge Fire Engine.
	Wildland Fire Engine ANF 17 is a type 3 engine that at the time of this photograph is stationed at the Chantry Flat ranger station in the Angeles National Forest, in the San Gabriel Mountains. Pictured from left to right are members of Engine 17 crew firefighters Jesus, Leo Munoz, and Bret Barber.
	CHIPS strike a pose for a photograph.  Many law enforcement organizations use this oppertunity to do some recruiting. So do we!
	Speaking about recruiting... Pam describes the Osborne fire finder and the program to visitors.
	On display are several helicopters.  This one is a Boeing CH-47 Chinook. The contra-rotating rotors eliminate the need for a rear vertical rotor, allowing all power to be used for lift and thrust, giving a top speed of 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h). Its primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement, and battlefield resupply. Chinooks have been sold to 16 nations. A commercial model, the Boeing 234 Chinook, is used worldwide for logging, construction, fighting forest fires, and supporting petroleum exploration operations.
	Inside the Chinook, it is even hotter than outside but I take a moment for a break.
	When one of the members of the flight crew asked if Susan wanted to sit in the cockpit, she jumped at the chance and into the seat.  Here she  is trying to find the ignition switch.
	Susan, get out of the helicopter.  Susan, it's time to go.  Susan you can't take it home.
	Ok if Susan is going to keep the Chinook, I'll take this one. This is Air Force Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a "twin-turbine engine, single rotor helicopter. It can perform a wide array of missions, including the tactical transport of troops, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation.  In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops with equipment or reposition the 105 mm M102 howitzer with thirty rounds of 105 mm ammunition, and a six-man crew in a single lift. Alternatively, it can carry 2,600 lb (1,170 kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,050 kg) of cargo. The Black Hawk is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics for increased survivability and capabiility, such as the Global Positioning System.  Several Black Hawks are even used to transport the President of the United States as Marine One.
	Meanwhile we were having fun in the helicopters, Pam and Jim keep the booth staffed.
	One of the flyby formations is the Los Angeles City Fire Department Air Operations and during their pass they drop a red, white and blue water drop.
	One of our most interesting visitors to the booth was Dan.  Dan was the last Forest Service paid fire lookout at Slide Mountain.  When we reopend the Slide lookout tower, we asked Dan if he would "call in service" to dispatch via radio. I hope to interview Dan as a special feature for this webpage.
	Our booth display is looking pretty good.  Not bad for a home built effort.  We are doing more public displays so our booth will be growing over time.
	Smokey Bear is a mascot of the U.S. Forest Service and he took some time to stop by the booth.  It was 108 degrees and that fur must have been hot.
	Los Angeles County FIREHAWK is a S-70A which is a UH-60 Black Hawk that was converted into a fire fighting role.  With twin turbine General Electric T700-GE-701C engines, a maximum gross weight of 23,500 pounds, and a cruise speed of 155 knots, the FIREHAWK is designed to be easily maintainable and to operate in the most demanding environments.
	City of Los Angeles #4
	Georges fire engine
	George, Pam, Kermit and me finish the day

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