A hero in the eyes of some: third generation aviator finds his wings in the Huey

Airman, Dec, 2004 by Christie Putz

"These things we do, that others may live...." It's not only the motto of the 36th Rescue Flight, but words that inspire one Airman's pride.

Capt. Sean Boldt's passion for helicopters and their mission started at a young age, through the work of his father, an Army helicopter pilot. Some of his earliest memories are of sitting in an AH-1 Cobra helicopter with his father and "pulling the sticks and pushing the buttons." Since then, his fascination with flying and the military took off.

Today a UH-IN Huey pilot at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Captain Boldt follows in his father's footsteps: Taking the controls and risking his life for others.

"This is what I love to do," he said. "This is my true passion."

And he gets to do his job quite a bit. The unit's primary mission is supporting the U.S. Air Force Survival School. There, students practice parachute operations, hoist training and other survival tactics, as well as provide medical airlift to injured students. The unit's other mission is to conduct search and rescue operations in Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho.

"Most local search agencies are limited in what they can do," Captain Boldt said. "We've got all the equipment needed, including night-vision goggles, a forward-looking infrared pod and a 250-foot hoist that can lift up to 600 pounds."

Armed with this gear, Captain Boldt and the other flight members put their lives on the line as they fly into often inclement weather in search of missing hunters, explorers, children and anyone else. To date, the flight has nearly 600 saves.

One save on the captain's record is the return of an Idaho woman who had been missing for three days in the 9,000-foot peaks near McCall, Idaho. Someone found her broken-down car, but nobody had seen her.

"She had tried to hike up a cliff to a cabin and fell about 200 feet," Captain Boldt said.

With a broken neck, leg, arm and ribs, the woman crawled another 200 yards to a stream where she used her shirt to soak up drinking water. It's the main reason she survived three days.

"We found her in a really dense forest area and lowered our medic to make an initial assessment," he said.

The helo was low on fuel, so the captain said it was critical to land. But the only option was the side of the cliff. He landed. The team saved the woman, who is now home safe with her family.

"It was demanding flying to say the least," Captain Boldt said. "But one more night and she wouldn't have made it. Knowing she is alive right now is the feeling I live for."

Heroics? No, he said, just part of the job.

Another sacrifice that comes with the territory is the busy work schedule. While the Air Force doesn't deploy the unit, its anytime search and rescue mission keeps it active. Crews make almost monthly, week-long trips into the woods. So they're away from home quite a lot.

"My wife has been nothing but supportive of my career," he said. "She knows that this is what I love to do. I couldn't ask for more."

While an English major at Lancaster University in England, the captain had to decide to either continue that path, or to take the military route. It was an easy decision for him.

"I've got my whole life to become an English teacher," Captain Boldt said. "But I knew that if I wanted to fly, I had to get in now."

Although raised in a predominantly Army family, the words of his experienced Airman grandfather were enough to sway him to the Air Force.

"He told me that if I wanted to play in the mud I should go Army. But if I wanted to fly, the Air Force was the way to go," he said.

Returning home, he enrolled in the Air Force Reserve Office Training Corps program at Central Washington University and was on his way to earning his wings. Now stationed only miles from his alma mater, the captain is fulfilling his dreams. He briefly considered flying airplanes, but his family ties with helicopters and the added "perks" were enough to convince him otherwise.

"There's so much more maneuverability with helos than planes," he said. "Helicopters fly low and slow and they're much noisier. But can a plane fly backwards or sideways?"

The captain's proud of what he does. From his aspirations as a young boy to his plans for the future, he always has--and always will--love to fly.

Now it's time for Captain Boldt to pass on the tradition and the memories to Gage, his 1-year-old son. Dad hopes his son will someday have a fraction of the passion and determination he has for flying.

And maybe, be seen as a hero to some.

Career Field Facts

11HX--Helicopter pilot/co-pilot

Assigned: 455

Duties: Plans and prepares for mission. Reviews mission tasking, intelligence and weather information. Supervises mission planning, preparation and filing of flight plan and crew briefing. Ensures aircraft is preflighted, inspected, loaded, equipped and manned for mission. Flys aircraft and commands crew. Operates aircraft controls and equipment. Performs, supervises or directs navigation, in-flight refueling, rescue operations and cargo and passenger delivery. Conducts or supervises crew training. Develops plans and policies, monitors operations and advises commanders.