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SPECULATOR, NY--A New York Army National Guard Aviator Staff Sgt Donald Smithgall gives the thumbs up as he makes ready to be lowered to the top of 3,750-foot high Wakley Mountain in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains on Monday, Nov. 29. The Soldi...
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SPECULATOR, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Aviation Soldiers from Army Aviation Support Facility 3 based in Latham, NY prepare to be hoisted down into a forest clearing to assist New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) workers o...
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SPECULATOR, NY-- New York Army National Guard Aviators brave the cold windblown snow thrown up by the UH-60 rotorwash as they prepare to slingload 2000 pound helipad components during a mission to assist the New York State Department of Environmental...
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SPECULATOR, NY--A New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter moves into position to slingload components of a helipad on Monday, Nov.29.Two Blackhawks based at Army Aviation Support Facility #3 at the Albany International Airport in Lath...
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SPECULATOR, NY--A New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter heads for the top of 3,750-foot high Wakley Mountain carrying a 2000 pound helipad component during a mission to support the New York State Department of Environmental Conserva...
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SPECULATOR, NY --Two New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters helped out the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Monday, Nov. 29 by airlifting parts of a helipad to the top of Wakley Mountain, deep in the heart of the six million acre Adirondack Park.
The two helicopters, based at Army Aviation Support Facility #3 at the Albany International Airport, carried 2000 pound, pre-fabricated helipad components to the top of the mountain by sling-loading them under the aircraft.
The mission provided the aviators a chance to train on sling-loading in mountainous terrain, explained New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Charles Rodda.
Most of the aviators are members of the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation (Assault Helicopter) and were deployed to Iraq in 2008/2009.
"After DEC crews cleared the area of debris and overgrowth, all of the reconstruction material was air lifted in by state aviation, but the platform beams were too heavy," said DEC conservation operations supervisor Ron Andersson. " Asking the National Guard for assistance was our only choice."
The helipad was originally placed there to provide access to a fire tower last used by the DEC in 1988 and a radio repeater. The new helipad will provide access to a new radio repeater placed on top of the mountain and allow ease of access for repairs to the fire tower, which is now a destination for hikers.
The 3,750 foot- high mountain, which offers 360-degree views of the Adirondack Park, is part of the Blue Ridge Wilderness and is 8.2 miles from Blue Mountain Lake
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