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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach arrives at the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach arrives at the 1st Helicopter Squadron operations facility at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. Wilsbach’s visit included a tour of the facility, aircraft familiarization, and a flight in the UH-1N Huey to get a first-hand understanding of the squadron’s mission in the National Capital Region. The 1st HS provides priority airlift for national-level civil and military senior leadership in the National Capital Region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach stands with a custom helmet from the 1st Helicopter Squadron.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach stands with a custom helmet from the 1st Helicopter Squadron aircrew flight equipment at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. The team surprised Wilsbach with a custom design on his helmet that commemorated Wilsbach’s father, who piloted helicopters when he served. (U. S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexis Redin)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach adjusts his helmet before co-piloting a UH-1N Huey.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach adjusts his helmet before co-piloting a UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. The 1st HS conducts rotary-wing airlift, security and contingency operations in support of Joint Base Andrews and the National Capital Region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach, left, and Lt. Col. Zach Minner, 1st Helicopter Squadron commander and instructor pilot, pilot a UH-1N Huey.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach, left, and Lt. Col. Zach Minner, 1st Helicopter Squadron commander and instructor pilot, pilot a UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. Wilsbach was given the opportunity to implement the training that he received on the UH-1N Huey at designated training zones to understand the full scope of the unit’s mission. The 1st HS delivers continuous, immediate-response capability vital to national security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

Photo of a helicopter over Washington D.C.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

A UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, flies over Washington, D.C., during training, March 31, 2026. The 1st HS conducts rotary-wing airlift, security, and contingency operations supporting the National Capital Region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

The Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Wilsbach co-pilots a UH-1N Huey.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach and Lt. Col. Zach Minner, 1st Helicopter Squadron commander and instructor pilot, pilot a UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st HS at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. Wilsbach gained hands-on experience with helicopter operations by co-piloting the helicopter in the National Capital Region. The 1st HS provides priority airlift for national-level civil and military senior leadership in the NCR. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach co-pilots a UH-1N Huey.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach co-pilots a UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. Wilsbach was given the opportunity to implement the training that he received on the UH-1N Huey at designated training zones to understand the full scope of the unit’s mission. The 1st HS delivers continuous, immediate-response capability vital to national security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach co-pilots a UH-1N Huey.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach co-pilots a UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. Wilsbach flew a local area mission, focusing on tactical and remote operations and helipad landings. The 1st HS provides priority airlift for national-level civil and military senior leadership in the National Capital Region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach co-pilots a UH-1N Huey.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach co-pilots a UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. Wilsbach gained hands-on experience practicing flight patterns and hover-work over unprepared landing zones. The 1st HS conducts rotary-wing airlift, security and contingency operations in support of Joint Base Andrews and the National Capital Region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach co-pilots a UH-1N Huey.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach co-pilots a UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. Wilsbach implemented the training he received on the UH-1N Huey at designated training zones to understand the full scope of the unit’s mission. The 1st HS conducts rotary-wing airlift, security and contingency operations in support of Joint Base Andrews and the National Capital Region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach smiles after co-piloting a UH-1N Huey.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach smiles after co-piloting a UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. During the flight, Wilsbach gained hands-on experience by co-piloting through numerous exercises and training scenarios in the National Capital Region. The 1st HS provides priority airlift for national-level civil and military senior leadership in the NCR. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach stands with a custom helmet from the 1st Helicopter Squadron.

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CSAF co-pilots local mission with 1st Helicopter Squadron at JBA

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach and Airmen assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron commemorate Wilsbach’s first time piloting a UH- 1N Huey at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 31, 2026. The crew educated Wilsbach on the challenges specific to the 1HS mission, requiring continuous pre-flight training. The 1st HS delivers continuous, immediate-response capability vital to national security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexis Redin)

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach visited Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on March 31, 2026, for a tour of the 1st Helicopter Squadron operations facility and to gain a first-hand understanding of the squadron’s mission in the National Capital Region.

After receiving a pre-flight brief, Wilsbach implemented the training that he received on the UH-1N Huey to co-pilot a local area mission focused on tactical and remote operations and helipad landings. The 1st HS conducts rotary-wing airlift, security and contingency operations in support of Andrews and the NCR.

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