LA LIMA CORTES, Honduras –
A UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook, from Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 1-228th Aviation Regiment “Winged Warriors” made their appearance at the annual Fuerza Aerea Air Show at Colonel Armando Escalon Espinal Air Base June 14-15, 2025.
The air show, hosted by the Honduran Air Force, benefited the local hospital, Mario Catarino Rivas and the Mil Aulas Foundation located in San Pedro Sula.
Pilots and crew from JTF-Bravo were ecstatic to participate in such an impactful event for the community, and for most, this was their first time at an air show.
“Soto Cano Air Base is my first duty station, and this is my first time attending an air show,” shared 1st Lt. Noah Kiger, UH-60 pilot. “I’m really enjoying Honduras, so much so, I extended an extra year. I certainly hope to experience more air shows. Who knows, maybe they will bring it to Soto Cano someday!”
Having served 18 years in the U.S. Army, Sgt. 1st Class Juan Rocha, CH-47 flight engineer shared his perspective on the event, “This is my first air show, and I’ve really enjoyed talking to everyone here and sharing the incredible aviation missions of JTF-Bravo.”
JTF-Bravo, the longest-standing task force in Central America, has partnered with Honduras for more than 40 years providing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and countering transnational criminal organizations. The task force functions as U.S. Southern Command’s rapid response element, enhancing regional security, promoting stability, and strengthening partnership through joint exercises and capacity-building initiatives in support of USSOUTHCOM priorities.
Capt. Max Liebl, a UH-60 pilot and company commander in the 1-228th Aviation Regiment, shared his enthusiasm for participating in the air show this year, “I’ve never been a part of something like this before. It’s been an awesome event, and I’m proud to be part of a team raising money for the local hospital. I’ve also really enjoyed talking to members of the community and seeing the excitement of the kids who visited our helicopter.”
Soto Cano Air Base is home to several helicopters, including the CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Black Hawk and HH-60 Black Hawk, all ready to respond in a moment’s notice, which means maintaining them is a must.
“My job is to maintain the UH-60 and fix anything wrong with it. My favorite part is working with the pilots and troubleshooting any issues with the aircraft,” expressed Spc. Zach Stock, UH-60 aircraft maintainer. “I’ve served in the Army for three years now and this has been my favorite assignment by far.”
It’s not always sunshine though as we experienced some light rain during the afternoon over the 2-day event. May through October serves as the rainy season in Honduras where heavy flooding can be a regular occurrence. The heavy rainfall can often lead to washed out roads and landslides, creating dangerous conditions and stranding people in remote locations. A notable JTF-Bravo mission took place in November 2020 when Hurricane Eta and Iota wreaked havoc through several countries in Central America. JTF-Bravo’s “Winged Warriors” responded quickly, providing immediate lifesaving assistance and over 400,000 lbs of aid.
CW2 Tyler Hindman, UH-60 pilot expressed his sincere gratitude and excitement about attending the air show and sharing the important mission of JTF-Bravo.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to be out in the community to share how JTF-Bravo supports Honduras. I get excited talking about the aircraft since they are so important to the stability of the Central American region should a disaster occur,” Hindman shared. “Our aircraft are built to reach even the most remote locations and provide life-saving care, critical aid, and search and rescue operations.”
In the days leading up to the air show, the U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa Security Cooperation Office donated approximately $211,000 USD in hospital beds, armchairs, crutches, exam tables, refrigerators, medical and surgical supplies and office furniture to the Mario Catarino Rivas Hospital in San Pedro Sula.
This support strengthens the local government's capacity and contributes to Honduras’ efforts to provide better medical care to communities that need it most.
Check out more photos from the air show here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjChZ4u
You can also view some fun facts about the CH-47 and UH-60 on our Instagram highlights here: Instagram.com/jtfbravo