US Army invades Georgia (with pics!)

August 24th, 2009 | Tags: , , ,

This weekend we drove up to the Unicoi national park for a picnic and to relax a little after a rough few weeks. On the way, we saw some helicopters circling overhead near Dahlonega GA. As we drove through town (it’s a nice little place,with a very B&B like feel to it), we passed a college campus and saw a total of 6 Army copters and several dozen soldiers practicing maneuvers.

Luckily I had the D90 with me and got off a few good shots (204 actually) – if you view some of these in succession, you can see the rotor blades turning. Also cool are some of the take-off shots. Be sure to click through for full size (4288 x 2848) images, suitable for wallpaper.

I now leave it to you, the reader, to let us know what kind of ‘copters these are and thrill us with arcane details about their history and usage.
:-)

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  • http://babygotmac.com scottmcdaniel

    When I pictured someone plying me with more detail than I needed, i had you in mind, AC.

  • acastleberry

    These are UH-60 “Black Hawk” helicopters. Read on for specs…

    MISSION

    Provide air assault, general support, aeromedical evacuation, command and control and special operations support to combat and stability and support operations.

    ENTERED ARMY SERVICE

    1979

    DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATIONS

    The UH 60 Black Hawk is a utility tactical transport helicopter that replaces the UH-1 “Huey”. The versatile Black Hawk has enhanced the overall mobility of The Army, due to dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo lift capability, and will serve as The Army's utility helicopter in the Objective Force. On the asymmetric battlefield, it provides the commander the agility to get to the fight quicker and to mass effects throughout the battlespace across the full spectrum of conflict. An entire 11-person, fully-equipped infantry squad can be lifted in a single Black Hawk, transported faster than in predecessor systems, in most weather conditions. The Black Hawk can reposition a 105 mm Howitzer, its crew of six, and lift up to 30 rounds of ammunition in a single lift. The aircraft's critical components and systems are armored or redundant, and its airframe is designed to progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and passengers.

    UH-60A

    MAX. GROSS WEIGHT: 20,250 lbs
    CRUISING SPEED: 139 kt
    ENDURANCE: 2.3 hrs
    MAX. RANGE: 320 nm
    EXTERNAL LOAD: 8000 lbs
    INTERNAL LOAD: 2640 lbs (or 11 combat-equipped troops)
    CREW: 4 (2 pilots; 2 crew chiefs)
    ARMAMENT: Two 7.62mm machine guns

    UH-60L

    MAX. GROSS WEIGHT: 22,000 lbs, 23,500 (external cargo)
    CRUISING SPEED: 150kt
    ENDURANCE: 2.1 hrs
    MAX. RANGE: 306 nm
    EXTERNAL LOAD: 9000 lbs
    INTERNAL LOAD: 2640 lbs (or 11 combat-equipped troops)
    CREW: 4 (2 pilots; 2 crew chiefs)
    ARMAMENT: Two 7.62mm machine guns

    MANUFACTURER
    United Technologies (Stratford, CT); General Electric (Lynn, MA)

  • http://babygotmac.com scottmcdaniel

    When I pictured someone plying me with more detail than I needed, i had you in mind, AC.

  • acastleberry

    These are UH-60 “Black Hawk” helicopters. Read on for specs…

    MISSION

    Provide air assault, general support, aeromedical evacuation, command and control and special operations support to combat and stability and support operations.

    ENTERED ARMY SERVICE

    1979

    DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATIONS

    The UH 60 Black Hawk is a utility tactical transport helicopter that replaces the UH-1 “Huey”. The versatile Black Hawk has enhanced the overall mobility of The Army, due to dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo lift capability, and will serve as The Army's utility helicopter in the Objective Force. On the asymmetric battlefield, it provides the commander the agility to get to the fight quicker and to mass effects throughout the battlespace across the full spectrum of conflict. An entire 11-person, fully-equipped infantry squad can be lifted in a single Black Hawk, transported faster than in predecessor systems, in most weather conditions. The Black Hawk can reposition a 105 mm Howitzer, its crew of six, and lift up to 30 rounds of ammunition in a single lift. The aircraft's critical components and systems are armored or redundant, and its airframe is designed to progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and passengers.

    UH-60A

    MAX. GROSS WEIGHT: 20,250 lbs
    CRUISING SPEED: 139 kt
    ENDURANCE: 2.3 hrs
    MAX. RANGE: 320 nm
    EXTERNAL LOAD: 8000 lbs
    INTERNAL LOAD: 2640 lbs (or 11 combat-equipped troops)
    CREW: 4 (2 pilots; 2 crew chiefs)
    ARMAMENT: Two 7.62mm machine guns

    UH-60L

    MAX. GROSS WEIGHT: 22,000 lbs, 23,500 (external cargo)
    CRUISING SPEED: 150kt
    ENDURANCE: 2.1 hrs
    MAX. RANGE: 306 nm
    EXTERNAL LOAD: 9000 lbs
    INTERNAL LOAD: 2640 lbs (or 11 combat-equipped troops)
    CREW: 4 (2 pilots; 2 crew chiefs)
    ARMAMENT: Two 7.62mm machine guns

    MANUFACTURER
    United Technologies (Stratford, CT); General Electric (Lynn, MA)