Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

From the left, Tech. Sgt. Jaime LaPorte, Tech. Sgt. Abimael Santiago-Soto, and Staff Sgt. Alex Delamarter, all 9th Airlift Squadron flight engineers, discuss in-flight procedures aboard a C-5M Super Galaxy on a training flight over California, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

A C-5M Super Galaxy assigned to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, sits parked on the flight line after a routine training flight at Travis Air Force Base, California, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

Capt. Dustin Suire, 9th Airlift Squadron pilot, discusses a flight plan as he flies a Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy during a routine training flight over California, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

Capt. Shawn Moore, left, and Capt. Dustin Suire, both 9th Airlift Squadron pilots fly a Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy on a routine training flight over the Oregon Pacific coast, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

Lt. Col. John Habbestad, 9th Airlift Squadron commander, observes the surrounding airspace from jump seat during a routine training flight on a Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy, over California, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

Capt. Shawn Moore, 9th Airlift Squadron pilot, flies a Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy during a routine training flight over California, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

A Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy flies over eastern Washington during a routine training flight, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

Capt. Shawn Moore, 9th Airlift Squadron pilot, points out Mount Shasta in California, while approaching it on a routine training flight on a C-5M Super Galaxy, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

Lt. Col. John Habbestad, 9th Airlift Squadron commander, observes the surrounding airspace from the jump seat during a routine training flight on a C-5M Super Galaxy over California, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

Tech. Sgt. Abimael Santiago-Soto, 9th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, looks at a flight plan while aboard a Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy during a routine training mission over California, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

Capt. Dustin Suire, 9th Airlift Squadron pilot, flies a Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy on a routine training flight over California, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

From the left, Capt. Shawn Moore, 9th Airlift Squadron pilot and Lt. Col. John Habbestad, 9th Airlift Squadron commander, fly a Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy on a routine training mission over northern California, June 5, 2021. During a Major Command Service Tail Trainer, pilots and flight engineers were able to fly over the West Coast using visual flight rules. This requires crew members to use ground references to fly, exercising different skill sets not often used in day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)

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Dover AFB Pelicans train on West Coast

Published June 25, 2021
By Senior Airman Faith Schaefer
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --