Sightings: U.S. Coast Guard HU-25D Guardian Stopover in St. Louis

By Mark Nankivil

One of those "right place, right time" moments occurred today while visiting St. Louis Downtown Airport when U.S. Coast Guard Dassault-Brequet HU-25D Guardian s/n 2114 from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi arrived to refuel. The aircraft type has been operational for about thirty years, and is rapidly being replaced in the search-and-rescue/coastal patrol mission by the EADS HC-144 Ocean Sentry.  Special thanks to the airport management, Jet Aviation and the aircraft crew for allowing access to the aircraft for our coverage.