Today, 1 April
2016, marks the 100th Anniversary of US Coast Guard aviation. Seldom receiving the level of attention given
to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, the Coast Guard is, nonetheless,
one of the armed services of the United States.
Normally part of
the US Department of Homeland Security in peacetime, the Coast Guard’s maritime
responsibilities ensure that the service is always engaged in operational
activities. Whatever the mission might
be, aviation assets and personnel are often integral to the success of the service’s
taskings.
A century of
service is no small accomplishment and US Coast Guard aviation aircraft, personnel
and displays will be in evidence at many air shows and events across the nation
this year. Making things even more
interesting, some 16 aircraft are to receive retro paint schemes from the past
100 years for the celebrations.
Find out more
about Coast Guard operations firsthand at one of the events this year.
For more
information concerning events and dates: http://centennial-cgaviation.org/index.php/events/
(above) One type
you won’t see this year, or again for that matter, is the Dassault HU-25
Guardian. The type gave good service to
the Coast Guard from early 1982 until the autumn of 2014 when the last example
was retired. Offering high transit
speeds as well as modern electronics and sensors, the HU-25’s replacements are decidedly
slower, but more versatile, CASA / EADS / Airbus HC-144A Ocean Sentry and ex-US
Air Force Alenia C-27J Spartan turboprop transports.
