1. EP-3 Recovery Mr. Ross Higa HQ PACAF/CECI

4. Lingshui (Naval) Air Base, Hainan Island, People's Republic of China EP-3

5. EP-3 and AN-124

6. Crew members guided the AN-124 on narrow taxiways and through tight turns

7. Kneeling AN -124 - Load bearing points on the pavement were closely monitored

8. The airfield already had existing defects

13. Three jack stands supported the aircraft during underside disassembly work

14. Blowers vented residual fuel before cutting operations could begin

15. A safety line was installed for topside work

16. Flaps, ailerons and leading edges were salvaged

17. Tail section was cut off the fuselage

18. Key components were salvaged

19. Four engines were removed in one day

21. Gas powered saws were used to cut and remove the wings in sections

22. Scrapped parts were also taken to Kadena on the AN-124

23. Main and nose gears were removed when rain halted wing cutting operations

24. A specially made trailer was jacked up to support the aircraft

25. EP-3 rested solely on the raised trailer after the jack stands were removed

26. Interior pipes and cables were pre-cut to facilitate removal of wing sections

27. Nacelles were salvaged

28. The AN-124 was "cubed out" on almost every return flight

29. Lockheed and Russian crews "busted butts" to load same-day turnaround flights “ You Call – We Haul”

30. Bridge cranes were used to load from the rear

31. A centerline marker was laid out to help align the AN-124 to the EP-3

32. The AN-124 hit the mark perfectly

33. The AN-124 used portable extension ramps to reduce the incline

34. Steel cables from the cargo bay were attached to the trailer

35. Winches pulled the fuselage into the cargo bay

36. The wide wheels and narrow ramps left no room for error

37. The fuselage and trailer cleared by a few inches

40. The portable ramps were disassembled and loaded onto the AN-124

41. The Russian crew

42. After a refueling stop in the Philippines and crew rest in Hawaii, the fuselage was welcomed home at Dobbins ARB, GA (home of Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems Co.)