"I had to make a serious decision. There were six
people on board, but only five [parachutes], which is legal, but
not fun... I knew my decisions could result in injury, or worse,
death."
Source: Capt. Andreas Ix, recounting his
actions on the morning of March 10, 2005. Ix kept a cool head after
his C-17 Globemaster III suffered a bird strike to its radome,
knocking out his ability to measure the plane's altitude and
airspeed. Aided by the three crewmembers onboard the plane, as well
as controllers from Altus Air Force Base, Ix brought the wounded
aircraft in safely -- and for his efforts, Ix received the 2005
Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy from Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen.
John. D.W. Corley in an awards ceremony May 12 at the
Pentagon.
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