USAF ROTORHEAD Members

Diane Revolinski

Short bio:  Enlisted in the open electronics field.  Had no idea what I wanted to do.  At basic training is when we had to apply & they showed us several listings in aircraft maintenance.  I had no idea what the type aircraft were, but could decipher the word “helicopter”.  We had to put down several choices & mine came back approved Helicopters!  Off to tech. school. 

Dec. 1978 – Jul. 1982, My first assignment: Sembach AB, West Germany.  (I should’ve stayed longer.)  Worked in the phase dock on CH-53C’s, used as troop/trash haulers.  During our down time, we had to assist in the OV-10 phase dock & I was the Tech Order filer.  Other women in the career field there: Joni Bye, Pat Shirk.  Started my private pilot license at Ramstein aero club.  

Aug. 1982 – Jan. 1984, Next: Kirtland AFB, NM. until Jan 1984. Worked in the phase/ISO docks on HH-53s’, used for aircrew training.  Sewed on SSgt. under 4 year’s time in service. Finished my private pilot license at base aero club.

Feb. 1984 – Feb. 1985, Next: Keflavik NAS, Iceland. Mission was Rescue. Assigned to HH-3E, tail number 66-13285. First time ever assigned as a crew chief, and on a foreign airframe. It had been in phase before I arrived, & given the task to rig the flight controls. The people assigned couldn’t get it figured out. I pointed out that they were using the base 10 number system instead of base 60 for the computations necessary for minutes/degrees used in flight control rigging. After being grounded for about 48 days, it passed FCF (functional check flight) on the first try. My aircraft achieved the 300th rescue.  Served as Operations Officer of the Navy Flying Club, also a member of the Rocky Road 4-Wheeler Club.

Mar. 1985 – Sep. 1987, Next: Myrtle Beach AFB, SC., when the H-3 Rescue Detachment unit closed. Assigned as swing shift supervisor/expeditor & Quality Control augmentee.  Worked with Lori Hill.  Served as Operations Officer of base aero club. 

Oct. 1987 – Jan. 1992, Next: Hurlburt Field, FL.  Assigned to MH-53J ISO Dock.  Units transitioned into Special Operations Squadrons. During Operation Desert Storm, worked as hangar door guard in FL., due to no aircraft to work on!  A year after the war, it finally came out in the newspapers that it was our helis. that were first to cross the Iraqi border carrying troops to take out the command & control centers.  Was on team that wrote career field WAPS test.  Started the preparation of the H-3 to go into the base air museum outdoors.

Feb. 1992 – Jan. 1994, Next: RAF Alconbury, UK. Assigned as swing shift supervisor/expeditor on MH-53Js.  First had to transfer unit from RAF Mildenhall to RAF Alconbury.  Enjoyed working the flight line during base Air Tattoos. 

Feb. 1994 – Jul. 1997, Next: Hurlburt Field, FL until retirement on 1 July 1997.  Assigned as Swing Shift Flight Line Production Supervisor of MH-53Js.  Served again on team that wrote career field WAPS test. 

Still curious to know if there were other women who stuck it out the full 20 years on helicopters.  Perhaps I was part of a rare breed. . . .