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Hero saves nine lives in plane drama
By CLIVE HUTCHBY
chutchby@shawnews.com
As two engines failed on
a huge United States Air Force HC-130 airplane, Tim Goken kept his
cool and saved nine lives. Goken, a 1984 graduate of Hiawatha High
School in Kirkland, has received a USAF commendation for his actions
under pressure that saved the lives of himself and eight other
service personnel. It also prevented the loss of an airplane that
costs $40 million. This week his mother Barbara, who lives in
Sycamore, told the Journal, "He's a real great guy. I'm so proud of
him."
Goken, who is 39 later
this month, was recently named Flight Engineer of the Year for the
19th USAF. He also was awarded a special commendation for his
actions in preventing disaster on a training flight out of the
Kirtland Air Force Base close to Albuquerque in New Mexico. He
joined the USAF in January 1986, and he and his wife Melinda, also a
20-year air force veteran, live in Albuquerque. His father
died in 1992, and a brother, Randy, who served in he USAF for nine
years, passed away in November 2003.
Goken also has two
sisters, both of whom live locally. Sue Plote is the executive
director of the Family Service Agency of DeKalb, and Cindy Banks
lives in Kirkland.
Plote said of her brother, "When he was a kid we didn't have as many
electronic things as we have now, but he was really interested in
everything. He was always on the move; always flying. And he wanted
to join the Air Force because Randy (his brother) was really his
hero." She revealed that her brother was very modest about the whole
incident. "The last time he was home he didn't make a big deal of
it. He thought it was just part of his duty."
The commendation in full:
Technical Sergeant Timothy C. Goken, 550th Special Operations
Squadron, 58th Operations Group, 58th Special Operations Wing,
Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is awarded the Air Education
and Training Command Well Done Award for safely recovering an HC-130
from a hazardous two-engine-out condition.
During a routine formal training mission, Sergeant Goken's HC-130
aircraft developed a large right wing fuel leak. The fuel leak
spread over 80 percent of the right wing, in dangerous proximity to
the number 3 and 4 engines.
This malfunction required the prompt shutdown of both engines on the
right wing to avert a potentially catastrophic wing fire.
During the climb, Sgt. Goken expertly conducted fuel dumping to
achieve a more favorable performance margin. The sequential shutdown
of the number 3 and 4 engines approximately eliminated 70 percent of
the available thrust keeping the HC-130 airborne and resulted in a
serious, asymmetric-thrust controllability situation.
Sgt. Goken quickly calculated two-engine controllability and
performance data, no-flap landing performance data and referenced
two-engine-out handling characteristics and guidance from the
aircraft manual.
His actions helped ensure a safe return to Kirtland Air Force Base
where a flawless, asymmetric, two-engine, no flap landing was
executed.
Sgt. Goken's performance directly contributed to saving the lives of
nine personnel and ensured the safe recovery of the $40 million
HC-130.
Signed by: John D. Hopper, Jr. Lieutenant General, USAF
The airplane:
The HC-130P/N is an extended-range, combat search and rescue version
of the C-130 Hercules transport. Its mission is to extend the range
of combat search and rescue helicopters by providing air refueling.
Secondary mission capabilities include performing tactical airdrops
of pararescue specialist teams, small bundles, zodiac watercraft, or
four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles; and providing direct
assistance to a survivor in advance of the arrival of a recovery
vehicle. Other capabilities are extended visual and electronic
searches over land or water, tactical airborne radar approaches and
unimproved airfield operations
From www.wikipedia.org,
the free online encyclopedia
July 7, 2005
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Clive Hutchby
Editor
Shaw News Weeklies
(Sycamore Journal, Genoa Journal, Hampshire Journal)
513 West State St.
Sycamore, IL 60178
chutchby@shawnews.com
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