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U.S. Army Helicopter Photos.
UH-60 Series Black Hawk combat assault helicopter
UH-60A Black Hawk. The Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk, first flown
in October 1974, is a light transport helicopter used for air assault,
air cavalry, and aeromedical evacuation units. The UH-60A was developed
as result of the
Utility Tactical Transport
Aircraft System (UTTAS) program. The Black Hawk is the primary
division-level transport helicopter, providing dramatic improvements
in troop capacity and cargo lift capability compared to the UH-1 Series
Huey it replaces. The UH-60A, with a crew of three, can lift
an entire 11-man fully-equipped infantry squad in most weather conditions.
It can be configured to carry four litters, by removing eight troop seats,
in the MedEval role. Both the pilot and co-pilot are provided with
armor-protective seats. Protective armor on the Black Hawk can withstand
hits from 23mm shells. The Black Hawk has a cargo hook for external lift
missions. The Black Hawk has provisions for door mounting of two
M60D 7.62mm machine guns on the
M144 armament subsystem, and can
disperse chaff and infrared jamming flares using the
M130 general purpose dispenser. The Black Hawk has a composite
titanium and fiberglass four-bladed main rotor, is powered by two General
Electric T700-GE-700 1622 shp turboshaft engines, and has a maximum cruising
speed of 184 mph (160 knots).
UH-60As from Ft. Stewart, GA armed with M60D door guns (with blank firing
attachments) on M144 armament
subsystem
UH-60L. In October 1989, the engines were upgraded to two
General Electric T700-GE-701C 1890 shp turboshaft engines, and an
improved durability gear box was added, resulting in a model
designation change from UH-60A to UH-60L. The T700-GE-701C has better
high altitude and hot weather performance, greater lifting capacity,
and improved corrosion protection.
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Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA) variants.
Sikorsky (S-76) H-76 Eagle was a Sikorsky funded
proposal for a utility helicopter that could also be used in the attack
role. Technology was based on the UH-60A Black Hawk. It was designed to
function as troop carrier, MedEvac, and as an armed tank killer. It
could be armed with 7.62mm gun pods, 2.75 inch rocket launchers or
Hellfire anti-tank missiles. When equipped with the Hughes M65
mast-mounted sight it was also capable of firing the TOW wire-guided
anti-tank missile system. Survivability designed into the H-76 included
crew protective armor, redundant systems, and crash-worthy fuel tanks.
The H-76 was powered by two Pratt & Whitney of Canada PT6B-36 960 shp
engines.
Sikorsky (S-76) H-76 Eagle
CH-47D
Chinook cargo helicopter
CH-47 series Chinook. Development of the medium lift Boeing
Vertol (models 114 and 414) CH-47 Series Chinook began in 1956. Since
then, the effectiveness of the Chinook has been continually upgraded by
successive product improvements, the
CH-47A,
CH-47B, CH-47C, and CH-47D.
CH-47A, first delivered for use in Vietnam in 1962, is a
tandem-rotor medium transport helicopter. The Chinook's primary
mission is moving artillery, ammunition, personnel, and supplies on
the battlefield. It also performs rescue, MedEvac, parachuting,
and aircraft recovery.
Royal Australian Air Force Maverick's Chinook picking-up an
A-20 Boston twin-engined bomber in Papua New Guinea
CH-47D was the result of June 1976 contract for a modernized
Chinook. Three airframes, CH-47A, CH-47B, and a CH-47C, were stripped-down
to their basic airframes and then rebuilt with improved systems to
provide three CH-47D prototypes. Improvements included upgraded power
plants, rotor transmissions, integral lubrication and cooling for the
transmission systems, and fiberglass rotor blades. Other improvements
included a redesigned cockpit to reduce pilot workload, redundant and
improved electrical systems, modularized hydraulic systems, an advanced
flight control system, and improved avionics. The Chinook has two tandem
three-bladed counter-rotating fiberglass rotors. The CH-47D is powered
by two Allied Signal Engines T55-L-712 3750 shp turboshaft engines and
has a maximun speed of 195 mph (170 knots).
The CH-47D was rolled-out in March 1979. The CH-47D carrys twice
the load of a CH-47A and has improved performance. The CH-47D can operate
at night and in nearly all weather conditions. The Chinook can accommodate
a wide variety of internal payloads, including vehicles, artillery pieces,
33 to 44 troops, or 24 litters plus two medical attendants. The Chinook
can be equipped with two door mounting
M60D 7.62mm machine guns on the M24 armament
subsystem and a ramp mounting M60D using the
M41 armament subsystem.
Boeing CH-47D Chinook medium lift cargo helicopter
CH-47D with M60D 7.62mm machine gun on M24 armament subsystem
(Copyright John Hairell )
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CH-47F Improved Cargo Helicopter (ICH) program. The CH-47F ICH
will provide a remanufactured airframe, vibration reduction initiatives,
an uprated engine, a new digital cockpit, extended range, and low
maintenance rotorheads. For the first time the product improved CH-47F
will have to capability to transport the M198 155mm towed howitzer. The
Allied Signal Engines (ASE) T55-L-712 engine will be replaced by the
ASE T55-GA-714A with a full authority digital engine control system.
The digital cockpit will include multifunctional displays (MFDs), a
MIL-STD-1553B databus for communications and navigation systems, and a
night-goggle compatible head-up display (HUD). These improvements will
enhance situational awareness and survivability. The digital map generator
provides the ability to be updated in flight with fresh tactical data
and reprogrammed pick-up and drop-off points. Extended range will be
provided by addition of from one to three internal 800 gal. fuel bladders.
The Army is planning to convert 302 of its fleet of 433 CH-47Ds between
now and 2014. The Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract is scheduled
to be released to the Boeing Company in December 2001. The first production
aircraft should be delivered in March 2003. The First Unit Equipped (FUE)
date is September 2004.
OH-6A
Cayuse light observation helicopter
The Boeing (McDonnell Dougles) (formerly Hughes model 369A) OH-6A,
was designed for use as a military scout during the Vietnam war to meet
the U.S. Army's need for an extremely maneuverable light observation
helicopter (LOH program). The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective
when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were
known as Pink Teams. The OH-6A Loach would find
targets by flying low, "trolling" for fire, and lead in a
Cobra, or Snake, to attack. The OH-6A could be armed with the
M27 armament subsystem, the
M134 six-barrel 7.62mm Minigun or the
M129 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament
subsystem.
OH-6A at Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA, 1994 (Copyright Ted Jones, 1995)
OH-6A Loach with XM8 40mm grenade launcher
EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for
command, control and radio relay.
UH-1D/UH-1H Iroquois utility helicopter
UH-1 Huey Sound bit [huey.wav], 26k, 3 seconds
UH-1 Huey Sound bit [huey18.wav], 397k, 18 seconds
(Source: WXUS 100.5 radio, Ft. Rucker, AL)
The most widely used military helicopter, the
Bell UH-1 series Iroquois, better known as the Huey,
began arriving in Vietnam in 1963. Before the end of the conflict, more
than 5,000 of these versatile aircraft were introduced into Southeast Asia.
Hueys were used for MedEvac, command and control, and air
assault; to transport personnel and materiel; and as gun ships. The AH-1G
Huey Cobra arrived in Vietnam in August 1967 to replace the
UH-1B/UH-1C Huey in it's gun ship
role.
Bell UH-1D Iroquois or Huey utility helicopter
UH-1D Huey utility helicopter
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Bell (model 205) UH-1D
(1962) had a longer
fuselage than previous models, increased rotor diameter, increased
range, and more powerful Lycoming T53-L-9A or T53-L-11D 1100 shp engines,
with growth potential to the Allied Signal Engines (ASE) T53-L-13B 1400 shp
engine. The "towel rack" FM antenna and pitot were located on top
of the cabin on the UH-1D. The UH-1D also featured a larger double windowed
sliding door, and small single window hinged door, just behind the pilot's
door. The UH-1D, redesigned to carry up to 13 troops, with a crew of two,
reached Vietnam in 1963. The MedEvac version UH-1V could carry six
stretchers and one medical attendant. The UH-1D has a range of 293 miles
(467km) and a speed of 127 mph (110 knots). UH-1Ds were built under
license in Germany. The primary armament subsystem used with the
UH-1D/UH-1H Huey is two door mounting
M60D 7.62mm machine guns on the M23 armament
subsystem.
1st
Cavalry Division UH-1D with pintle-mounted M60D 7.62mm machine gun on the
M23 armament subsystem
Primary Mission. Early production UH-1Ds were equipped for
use with XM3 24-tube rocket launchers,
M5 40mm grenade launcher, and
M6 quad M60C machine gun mounts. Because
the UH-1D has a larger carrying capacity, the Army made the decision
during configuration reviews to designate the UH-1D primarily as a
utility helicopter, with the gun ship role being relegated to the
smaller UH-1B/UH-1C helicopters. The UH-1D can be armed with
M23 M60D 7.62mm door guns to provide
flank protection. The UH-1H retains the same armament provisions.
UH-1B Huey armed with 24-tube 2.75 inch rocket launcher on
XM3 armament subsystem
UH-1B with 40mm grenade launcher in M5 armament subsystem
UH-1D with quad M60C 7.62mm machine guns on M6 armament subsystem
Bell (model 205A-1) UH-1H (1965-1986) is identical to the
UH-1D but is equipped with an upgraded engine that allows transport
of up to 13 troops. The UH-1H has a two-bladed semi-rigid see-saw
bonded all-metal main rotor and a two-bladed rigid delta hinge bonded
all-metal tail rotor. The UH-1H is powered by a single Lycoming
T53-L-13B 1400 shp turboshaft engine. More UH-1H Hueys
were built than any other model. The UH-1H was licensed for
co-production in the Republic of China (Taiwan) and in Turkey.
For some excellent photos of the UH-1H go to
UH-1H Huey photos page.
UH-1H Huey utility helicopter (Source
US Army AMCOM)
UH-1H with M60D 7.62mm door guns on M23 armament subsystem (Copyright
Butch Lottman)
D/2/1st Cav UH-1H at An Khe in 1968; light wire around tail boom was the
HF antenna (Copyright Fred Lohr at
http://www.sirinet.net/~flohr/)
UH-1H Nighthawk gunship was equipped with a zenon
searchlight and a pintle-mounted M134 7.62mm
Minigun for use during night interdiction missions. The Nighthawk
was also armed with one .50 cal. machine gun and two M60D 7.62mm machine guns.
The Nighthawk was manned by a crew of two and four gunners (one of the
gunners also manned the searchlight).
UH-1H Nighthawk in Vietnam, 1971
(Copyright Mike Austin at
http://www.vietvet.org/bg23.htm)
Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA) variant
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Source Material: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Washington, DC.
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