US Army invades Georgia (with pics!)
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.
:-)
When I pictured someone plying me with more detail than I needed, i had you in mind, AC.
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)