User:Born2flie/Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk
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For other uses of Black Hawk, see Black Hawk.
The UH-60 Black Hawk is a twin-engined, medium-lift military helicopter family, with a single four-bladed main rotor and a four-bladed tail rotor, designed and manufactured by Sikorsky as the model S-70. Selected as the winner of the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System program for the Army in 1976, the UH-60 has gone on to serve as the basis for variants in service with other branches of the U.S. military as well as military and civilian service in over 20 countries.
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[edit] Development
[edit] UTTAS
The Black Hawk was developed to meet a US Army requirement for a UH-1 Iroquois replacement in 1972. Three prototypes were constructed, the first (YUH-60) flying in October 1974, and evaluated against a rival (YUH-61) Boeing-Vertol design. Though the two final competing designs were both developed to Army specifications, the Sikorsky design was selected over an entry from Boeing-Vertol, and the UH-60A entered service with the US Army in 1979. It would go on to serve as the basis for variants in service with other branches of the US military.
[edit] History
In the late 1980s the model was upgraded to the UH-60L (First production aircraft 89-26179) which featured more power and lift with the upgrade to the -701C model of the GE engines. A newer model is being engineered (UH-60M), which will extend the service life of both UH-60A's and UH-60L's well into the 2020s, features still more power and lift and state of the art electronic instrumentation, flight controls and aircraft navigation control.
[edit] History
The S-70 family was developed to meet a US Army requirement for a replacement of the venerable UH-1 Iroquois family of utility medium-lift helicopters in 1972. Its US military designation is H-60.
The S-70 can perform a wide array of missions, including air transport, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation: several versions are even used to transport the President of the United States, which while carrying the President is known as Marine One. The S-70 can move a squad of 11 combat troops and equipment or carry the 105 mm M102 howitzer, thirty rounds of ammunition, and a six-man crew. Alternatively, it can carry 2,600 lb (1,170 kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,050 kg) of cargo. The S-70 is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics, such as the Global Positioning System.
Three prototypes were constructed, the first (YUH-60A) flying in October 1974, and evaluated against a rival (YUH-61A) Boeing-Vertol design. The S-70 was selected for production and entered service as the UH-60A Black Hawk with the US Army in 1979. In the late 1980s the model was upgraded to the UH-60L (first production aircraft 89-29179) which featured more power and lift with the upgrade to the -701C model of the GE engines.
A newer model being engineered, which will extend the service life of both UH-60A's and UH-60L's well into the 2020s, features still more power and lift and state of the art electronic instrumentation, flight controls and aircraft navigation control.
The United States Navy received the first navalised SH-60B Sea Hawk in 1983 and the SH-60F in 1988.
The HH-60G Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the S-70 primarily designed to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel during war and equipped with a rescue hoist with a 250 ft (75 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable in-flight refueling probe. The United States Air Force received the MH-60G Pave Hawk in 1982.
The United States Coast Guard received the HH-60J Jayhawk in 1992. It is similar to the HH-60G Pave Hawk, but navalised.
The S-70A Firehawk is a version of the S-70 designed for firefighting, rescue, medical evacuation, and external lift of bulky cargo and equipment. The Oregon National Guard was the first military organization in the world to add the Firehawk to its inventory; the Los Angeles County Fire Department was the first municipal organization.
The Army also flies medical evacuation models which are configured as rotary winged medical suites. They also used the S-70 for special operations by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers") known as the MH-60K at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The Maple Hawk was a variant offered by Sikorsky to the Canadian Forces during the tender to replace the military's search and rescue helicopters.
The unit cost varies with the version. For example, the unit cost of the Army's UH-60L Black Hawk is $5.9 million while the unit cost of the Air Force MH-60G Pave Hawk is $10.2 million.
[edit] Variants
The UH-60 comes in many variants, and many different modifications. Later versions of the standard US Army version can be fitted with wings that allow it to carry up to four external fuel tanks for extended range operations, while variants may have different capabilities and their respective equipment in order to fulfill different roles.
[edit] Military
The United States Army also flies medical evacuation models which are configured as rotary winged medical suites.
- UH-60A
- EH-60A
- SH-60B/F
In 1983, the United States Navy received the first, specially-equipped, navalized version of the H-60 Black Hawk family; the SH-60B Seahawks. The primary mission of the SH-60 is as a platform for the Light Airborne Multi-Purpose Subsystem (LAMPS) Mark III mission. The SH-60F was received in 1988. The S-70B is an export version derived from the SH-60B.
- HH-60G
In 1982, the United States Air Force received the HH-60G Pave Hawk, a highly modified version of the Black Hawk primarily designed to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel during war. It is equipped with a rescue hoist with a 200 ft (60.96 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable in-flight refueling probe.
- HH-60J
In 1992, the United States Coast Guard received the HH-60J Jayhawk. It is equipped with a rescue hoist with a 200 ft (60.96 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability.
- MH-60K
MH-60K Blackhawk variants are also used for special operations by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers") at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
- UH-60L
- UH-60M
- VH-60N
The Night Hawk was developed for the Marine VH-1 Squadron.
[edit] Civilian
- The S-70A Firehawk is a version of the Black Hawk designed for firefighting, rescue, medical evacuation, and external lift of bulky cargo and equipment. The Oregon National Guard was the first military organization in the world to add the Firehawk to its inventory; the Los Angeles County Fire Department was the first municipal organization.
- AH-60L Arpía III is a Colombian version, used by the Fuerza Aérea Colombiana AH-60L / S-70 Battle Hawk in use by the Australian Army
The unit cost varies with the version due to the varying specifications and equipment. For example, the unit cost of the Army's UH-60L Black Hawk is $5.9 million while the unit cost of the Air Force MH-60G Pave Hawk is $10.2 million.
[edit] Specifications (UH-60A Black Hawk)
General characteristics
- Crew: Minimum 2 pilots
- Capacity: 2,645 lb of cargo internally, including 14 troops or 6 stretchers, or 8,000 lb (UH-60A) or 9,000 lb (UH-60L) of cargo externally
- Length: 64 ft 10 in (19.76 m)
- Rotor diameter: 53 ft 8 in (16.36 m)
- Height: 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)
- Disc area: 2,260 ft² (210 m²)
- Empty weight: 10,624 lb (4,819 kg)
- Loaded weight: 16,260 lb (7,375 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 24,500 lb (11,113 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-700 free-turbine turboshafts, 1,560 hp (1,160 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 222 mph (193 knots, 357 km/h)
- Combat radius: 368 mi (420 nm, 592 km)
- Ferry range: 1,380 mi (1,200 nm, 2,220 km)
- Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,790 m)
- Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
- Disc loading: 7.19 lb/ft² (35.4 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.959 hp/lb (158 W/kg)
Armament
- 2× 7.62 mm (0.30 in) M60 machine guns, M134 miniguns or M240H).
- VOLCANO minefield dispersal system.
MH-60K DAPP aircraft are armed with
- M134 miniguns
- 2.75" FFAR rockets
- 30mm Chain Gun
[edit] Operators
Sikorsky offered the H-60 design in the defense market (as the S-70), leading to its purchase by over 20 other countries. It is in service with the armies of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, the People's Republic of China, Colombia, Chile, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spanish Navy, Republic of China (Taiwan), Thailand, and Turkey. The largest and most well known user remains the United States. In addition, the S-70A and one model of the S-70C serve as "FireHawks" with Brainerd Helicopters, Inc.
[edit] External links
- Photos & Info about H-60 Series aircraft
- Ft. Rucker (Army Aviation Training Center) Black Hawk page
- H-60 and AH-60L on globalsecurity.org
- Combataircraft.com Blackhawk link
- The S-70A-42 Black Hawk of the Austrian Army
[edit] Related content
Related development
- Sikorsky S-92 - Civilian medium-lift helicopter.
- Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk - Military version of the S-92.
Comparable aircraft
- Mil Mi-8 Hip
Designation sequence
Related lists
{{active military aircraft of the United States}}
See also
[edit] References
| Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk - Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk - Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk - Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk |
