Aircraft—Big Sandy Unicom…VH-60 helicopter…flight of two…6 miles to the east… inbound for landing…direct to the ramp…
Unicom—Winds 260 at 4 knots…no other reported traffic…
Flight of two
Most pilots flying cross-country call ahead to make sure there are no surprises awaiting them. That’s true for military pilots as well. After the recent tornadoes that devastated our neighbors in Western Kentucky, I got a call from a Washington, DC area code about a possible flight through our area. The colonel I talked with asked me if I had experience fueling military helicopters. I informed him that I have fueled many Blackhawk helicopters over the years and a few other aircraft. “Yes, sir, we can handle it,” I said.
The Colonel told me he would call back to confirm if he indeed would be passing through. The reason I always check the area code from calls like that is to gauge if the aircraft will need fuel. A helicopter will more likely than not need fuel flying from Washington, DC to Big Sandy. That’s important to me because that’s how I make my living, by selling fuel. I’m just like your local gas station along the highway, except my customers come from the sky and sometimes buy several hundred gallons at a time.
I immediately thought, “This might have something to do with President Biden’s visit to Kentucky and this might be the presidential helicopters coming my way.” The reason I thought this, is because it has happened before.
In 2003, I had two Presidental helicopters and a Blackhawk land here on their way to Texas to fly President Bush. And of all times to take the day off, I wasn’t at the airport that day. I had planned to go to a UK football game against Mississippi State and thought about cancelling my trip to wait on the helicopters but I decided to go. Lot’s of times flying plans have last minute changes, I had my son-in-law, Kyle Runyon, scheduled to work for me so I decided to go to the game.
I wasn’t sure those helicopters would be from the President’s fleet but my call was from a colonel from Washington, DC and it sure sounded important. I told the colonel that we have a restaurant on the field and he said, “We won’t have time to eat, just fuel as quickly as possible and be on our way.”
That Saturday morning I showed Kyle how to position the helicopters on the ramp near the fuel farm. My long jet fuel hose allows me to fuel 3 Blackhawks at one time and still have enough room so the rotor blades don’t get too close. I told Kyle, “These may be the President’s helicopters, I don’t know for sure, do a good job and be extra careful and call me after they leave and tell me what they were and how much fuel you sold them.”
That Saturday I headed to Lexington for the noon game, all the way to Lexington I kept wondering if the helicopters had arrived and if it was indeed the President’s helicopters and if I had made a mistake by not being there. As I was driving into the stadium I got my call from Kyle. “You’re not going to believe what you missed!” Kyle said with excitement in his voice.
“Oh please, don’t tell me I missed the President of the United States, Kyle!” I said.
“You didn’t miss him but you did miss his helicopters. Two of the big green Presidental helicopters and one Blackhawk for the support team. They guarded the helicopters with machine guns and wouldn’t even let me fuel them. I just parked them, turned on the fuel and let them do their thing.” Kyle said.
“Did you at least take a picture of them?” I asked.
“At first they didn’t want me to take a picture, then they said I could stand way back and it would be OK.” Kyle said.
I always regretted missing that fuel sale. I thought I might never get a chance like that again. When I saw on the news that President Biden was planning a trip to Kentucky to visit the tornado damage and that Sunday evening I got a call from a colonel from the Washington, DC area code, things were following the same pattern. The following day I got a call confirming that two UH-60 helicopters would be coming at noon. The military calls the Blackhawk helicopters a UH-60, (that stands for “utility helicopter”) I immediately thought,
“This won’t be the President’s helicopters, this will be the support team.”
It was all over the news about the devastation in Western Kentucky and that the President would be visiting on Wednesday. It was heart breaking to see the damage to our fellow Kentuckians. It reminded me of the tornado we experienced just a few years back and how some of our communities had to be rebuilt.
Just before noon I got the radio call…two “VH-60” helicopters, 6 miles to the east, inbound for landing. I wasn’t sure I had heard that right and then they came into view. I could see the “white tops” that signify they are indeed Presidential helicopters. I had no idea that the Presidential fleet had Blackhawks as well as the VH-4, (that’s the big green one with the white top you see picking the President up at the White House). I ended up finding out that the Presidental fleet also consists of the Osprey helicopters, that’s the Marine helicopter that takes off like a helicopter and then the rotor blades rotate to fly like a plane.
I parked the two Blackhawks near the fuel farm and out came the Marine guards, M-16’s and all, they surrounded the helicopters. I just stood back and waited until they approached me. The crew chief opened the cover to the fuel port on the first helicopter and signaled me to bring the hose. These guys weren’t as strict as the guys Kyle had fueled, they did escort me in and out to each helicopter though. I told them that we have a restaurant on the field and all military eat free at the Cloud 9 and if they had the time we would be glad to talk care of them.
The Colonel of the crew introduced himself and said, “I have already heard of the Cloud 9 Cafe’ and that the Big Sandy Regional Airport was very good to the military. I have a cabin in the Cumberland Region of Western Maryland and I’m friends with a pilot who flies for the West Virginia National Guard, he has a cabin near me, my friend has been to Big Sandy many times. He suggested we stop here if we needed to choose an airport heading east.”
The Colonel and flight crew walked over to the Cloud 9 to eat while the guards ordered take-out food. They never left their post around the helicopters. I offered to go get their take-out but one of the guards told me that they already sent someone to pick it up. I even offered to get them chairs but they declined and ate while standing guard.
When they got ready to leave I talked to several of them. I asked, “Where do you guys call home?” One was from Alaska, one from Texas and so on, I’m sure they will be proud to tell their grandchildren some day of the important job they once did. These soldiers looked so young to me to have so much responsibility but that’s what our military is. Young men and women from all over this nation, serving and protecting our country. That’s why they deserve our respect, each and every one of them.
When the flight crews started loading up the colonel signaled for me to come out to his helicopter. He gave me a “military appreciation coin” and gave me his “sleeve patch” and thanked me for taking care of his team. “My friend from West Virginia was right. Thank you for your hospitality, me and my men appreciate you, sir.” He said.
“Thank you for your service colonel, and your men too, I don’t think you could find anyone in Eastern Kentucky that doesn’t love our military. Be safe, God bless you guys!” I said.
The helicopters left Big Sandy heading for Fort Campbell in Western Kentucky to await their mission on Wednesday. As I watched the President touring the tornado damage on TV, I did feel a little proud that some of my fuel was still in those helicopters and that I had met the men who were flying them.
Aircraft—Big Sandy Unicom…VH-60 helicopter…flight of two…departing the ramp to the West…
Unicom—God speed guys…thank you for your service…have a safe trip…
Wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it, Gary.