Spy plane receives hero's welcome after 4 years on the road

Published: Feb 21, 2006
Source: www.dailynews.com



EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - An unmanned Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft received a hero's welcome Monday when it returned to Edwards Air Force Base after four years of duty in the War on Terror.

Just before noon, Global Hawk air vehicle 3 touched down at Edwards after completing the final leg of its journey home, a 23-hour flight from Australia. As it taxied to its hangar, the airplane was given a ceremonial dousing by two fire engines.

The airplane was being honored because during its four years of war service it recorded more than 35,000 images of targets and logged 4,245 of the 5,000-plus combat hours flown by Global Hawk aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan.continue..