The Honorable Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio,"pilots" a C-5A Galaxy Formal Training Unit’s flight simulator. Maj. Steve Radtke, 433rd Operations Support Squadron, "trains" the mayor during his visit to the Alamo Wing Feb. 12, 2013. The unique “C-5 School House” operated by the 433rd Airlift Wing qualifies Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve aircrews on the C-5 weapon system. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Denise Haeussler)
Lt. Col. Jimmie “Pat” Brooks, 356th Airlift Squadron commander, explains the components of the C-5A Galaxy to the Honorable Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio, as he climbs the ladder to the top hatch of the aircraft during a static display tour on Feb. 12, 2013. Castro visited the 433rd Airlift Wing to learn more about the Air Force Reserve, learn about the mission and the role the unit plasy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Tim Wade)
Senior Airman Stephanie Rymers, center right, structural aircraft technician at the 433rd Airlift Wing's Corrosion Shop, explains to San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro the window-reveal mold machine prior to the demonstration of how window-reveal mold components are manufactured for the wing's C-5A Galaxy fleet. The mayor visited the wing on Feb. 12, 2013 to learn about the "Alamo Wing's" missions and its role within the Air Force Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo by Elsa Martinez)
Col. Jeffrey Pennington, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, bids farewell to the Honorable Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio, after his visit to the Alamo Wing Feb. 12. 2013. Pennington presented Castro with a unit a coin thanking him for his time he spent with Reservists. Airmen briefed him on the capabilities of the wing and the C-5A Galaxy aircraft. (U.S Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Denise Haeussler)
by 1st Lt. Denise Haeussler
433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
2/15/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO LACKLAND -- The Honorable Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio, visited with Air Force Reserve members of the 433rd Airlift Wing, on a gorgeous sunny day here on Feb. 12 to get a first hand look at the wing's mission.
"Welcome Mr. Mayor, it's an honor and a pleasure to have you here with us," said Col. Jeffrey Pennington, 433rd AW commander, as he shook hands with the mayor and invited him to his office for a quick meet and greet.
First, Castro visited the 433rd Maintenance Squadron Corrosion Shop. The unit manufactures interior trim parts and other components for the C5-A Galaxy. After he saw parts that make up the C-5A, he received a tour of the massive aircraft where he met with aircrew members to learn about the aircraft's capabilities. He concluded his day with a visit to the C-5A Formal Training Unit flight simulator.
While in "flight", Castro experienced piloting a C-5A over the city of San Antonio. He then took a quick trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor, before "landing" the simulator abruptly in Germany.
"This is probably the only time I will ever see Hawaii," exclaimed the mayor with a laugh as he "flew" over the Aloha state.
When the day was over, Castro, the youngest mayor of a Top 50 American City, thanked everyone for an informative and spectacular visit.
"I got a chance to gain a better understanding of how the 433rd AW keeps its military members trained and ready for a whole host of missions," said Castro. "It is very clear from my experience today that the 433rd AW plays a vital role in making missions successful."
