Outstanding Aircraft of the Second Quarter

Tech. Sgt. Erik Calderon, Staff Sgt. Patrick Sanchez, Senior Airman Josh Briles and Senior Airman Nick Savasta, 161st Maintenance Group crew chiefs, win the unit's award for Outstanding Aircraft of the Second Quarter with a Mission Capability Rating of 94.09 percent at the 161st Air Refueling Wing, Phoenix, April 7, 2013. Assigned to aircraft #59-1450 “Red Bird”, these Airmen maintained their jet throughout 28 sorties and 100.6 flying hours over the past three months and beat out eight other crews in competition for this award being judged on a combination of expertise and flawless inspections. (Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Courtney Enos/Released)

Outstanding Aircraft of the Second Quarter award

Published April 7, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Courtney Enos
161 ARW Public Affairs

PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE -- Five crew chiefs from the 161st Air Refueling Wing won the unit's Outstanding Aircraft of the Second Quarter award with a Mission Capability Rating of 94.09 percent.

Assigned to aircraft #59-1450 "Red Bird", Tech. Sgt. Erik Calderon, Staff Sgt. Patrick Sanchez, Senior Airman Josh Briles, Senior Airman Nick Savasta and Senior Airman Blake French maintained their jet throughout 28 sorties and 100.6 flying hours over the past three months. These Airmen beat out eight other crews in competition for this award being judged on a combination of expertise and flawless inspections.

Team Chief for the past year and a half, Tech. Sgt. Erik Calderon said of his teammates, "they were very dedicated while I was deployed. They really stepped up and took the lead."

A mission capability rating encompasses being fully functional during 24 hour operations both at home station and abroad, complying with forms, inspections and technical order requirements.

Nightshift flight chief, Master Sgt. Brian Farrell emphasized how hard work, effort, dedication and attention to detail in a very competitive environment is crucial, "down to every nut and bolt."