An Air Force instructor pilot was recently presented with an award recognizing outstanding feats of airmanship after using skill and strategy to safely land his T-38 aircraft despite mechanical failure. On June 27, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein presented the 2018 Koren Kolligian Jr., Trophy to Capt. Matthew T. Heath, assigned to the 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, according to a service release. Heath’s pilot skills would be put to the test Nov. 18, 2017, after a line worker inadvertently put diesel exhaust fluid in the fuel tank of his T-38, contaminating the fuel supply. When the throttle stopped responding during the subsequent flight as a result of this mistake, Heath was able to keep the aircraft on a landing profile by keeping the landing gear up until he was close enough to ensure enough energy to land. He’s credited with saving the life of his co-pilot and saving the aircraft, worth $8.2 million. Read more at AF.mil.
T-38 Pilot Honored for Life-Saving Landing
