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f force transmitted throughout the cockpit. The entire crew felt it, the strain of a 3,000 horsepower, twin shaft power-plant. The crew might as well have jumped on the back of a mythical dragon with a chain around its neck and a bit in its mouth. Man's most audacious invention became a defiant beast. As Kile approached a critical distance from the mountain he suddenly lost his focus. Fear took control, and his confidence began to erode. He imagined his 20,000-pound helicopter tumbling down the mile-high slope below him, violently killing everyone on board. His grip on the controls was inextricably connected to the fate of men's souls. Major Brian Kile wasn't a daredevil pilot, nor was he wanting to be a hero. He had responsibilities. He was a leader of men, of pilots and flight engineers. He was a husband, father, football coach, mentor. Kile had a future. And yet, fear was luring him towards a destiny that would erase his commitments. When Dopson spotted the helicopter it was the first time he thought he might be getting out alive. But that changed when he saw the helicopter struggling in the wind. He was uncertain if they would ever be able to land. Kile and his crew tried several approaches but kept backing off. Finally, he found a spot on the ridge where they thought they might be able to do a partial landing. As he was coming in, his co-pilot insisted they were coming in too low. "You're undershooting," he insisted over the radio. "I got it," Kile responded. But then he second-guessed himself and that's when fear took over. He imagined crashing, then his grip tightened on the controls. The two climbers, having no communication with the helicopter, could only wait nervously, fearing for the safety of the men on board, but also hoping they would be rescued. Finally, Kile was able draw on all his years of experience and begin his final approach on a narrow ridge above the climbers. He passed the point of no return and was basically forced to land, still with the wind threatening to push the helicopter from its tiny perch. The entire back half of the helicopter was hanging precariously over the side of the mountain, rotors still spinning in case they had to abort. Dopson described getting hand signals from the flight engineer to not approach the helicopter, to stay back. Kile was uncertain if he might have to take off any second, which could have killed the climbers if they were hit with the rotor or blown off the mountain by 100 mph prop wash. Finally, Kile felt confident enough and a pararescueman was sent out, belayed by another from inside the helicopter. The two climbers were quickly hooked to the rescuers’ harness and led back to the helicopter. After being helped into the helicopter Dopson described nearly being in tears as he looked at his climbing partner and saw how overwhelmed he was. Their faces mirrored both relief and anxiety. They were far from
safe, because the overloaded helicopter was still in a dangerous spot. As Kile began applying full power he tried to force his worst fears from his mind. He was at one of the most dangerous junctures a rescue pilot will ever face. The mission was only half over. With the engines and crew prepared for takeoff the wind started to force the helicopter from the ridge. Realizing he had no choice, Kile had to fully commit to trying to use the wind to his advantage. What worried him most was now provided the additional lift they needed to get off the steep ridge-line, especially with the added payload. After Kile flew into more stable air he turned over the controls to his co-pilot and in that instant a rush of endorphins flooded his body. His hands were stiff with pain. In just a few minutes they met with the C-130 for aerial refueling and then headed back to base. "No other mission scared me as much as that," Kile said, adding "not even being shot at." When they prepared to land at Eielson Air Force base in Fairbanks, Kile saw a woman standing at the edge of the hanger. She was pensive, and he knew she was waiting for the helicopter, but he also knew she would have been unaware of the details of the rescue. After the crew opened the doors on the helicopter he watched Dopson run towards the woman. After many stressful hours of intense focus, time suddenly stopped. Kile watched the two climbers reunited with their loved ones, and he got his crew back to base safely, giving him the only sense of accomplishment he needed. Then he went through his post flight routine with his crew, like they all had done so many times before. No celebration, no interviews, no fan-fare. Just an ordinary man doing an extraordinary job July 6 - July 12, 2017