David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:33pm
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CH-21 Shawnee
The Shawnee was the "Workhorse" of Vietnam until 1964 when it was replaced with the fielding of the UH-1 "Huey" in 1963, and the later fielding of the CH-47 Chinook in the mid-1960s. Some Shawnees were armed with flex guns under the nose. An interesting experimental version was tested stateside with a Boeing B-29 Superfortress ball-turret mounted beneath the nose. The Shawnee had two tandem fully-articulated three-bladed counter-rotating rotors. The CH-21 was powered by one Curtis-Wright R1820-103 Cyclone supercharged 1150 hp piston engine. The CH-21B was equipped with an uprated 1425 shp engine. The CH-21 had a speed of 128 mph (111 knots).
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David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:41pm
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UH-1B ARA with XM3 24-tub
UH-1B ARA with XM3 24-tube 2.75 inch rocket launcher
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David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:41pm
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M5 gun pod on UH-1B "Huey
M5 gun pod on UH-1B "Huey"
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David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:41pm
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XM18 Pod
The XM18 was a Research and Development project for aft ejection of flares, munitions, or CS grenades from six-tube 2.75 inch launchers mounted on the UH-1B/UH-1C "Huey". One six-tube dispenser could be mounted on each side of the aircraft. Two six-tube XM18 dispensers, held together by a dispenser adaper, made up one 12-tube XM15 dispenser subsystem.
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David
Thu January 16, 2003 10:14am
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AH-1W Super Cobra
Function: Fire support and security for forward and rear area forces, point target/anti-armor, anti-helicopter, armed escort, supporting arms control and coordination, point and limited area air defense from enemy fixed-wing aircraft, armed and visual reconnaissance.
History: The Marine Corps deployed four of six active force squadrons (48 AH-1Ws) to Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. These helicopters destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored personnel carriers and vehicles, 16 bunkers and two antiaircraft artillery sites without the loss of any aircraft. The deployment required no additional augmentation to squadron support personnel and only one Bell Helicopter technical representative.
Description: The AH-1W Super Cobra is a day/night marginal weather Marine Corps attack helicopter that provides enroute escort for our assault helicopters and their embarked forces. The AH-1W is a two-place, tandem-seat, twin-engine helicopter capable of land- or sea-based operations. The AH-1W provides fire support and fire support coordination to the landing force during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore. The AH-1W is operated in eight composite HMLA squadrons composed of 18 AH-1 and 9 UH-1 aircraft. The AH-1W is curretnly being outfitted with a Night Targeting System/Forward Looking Infrared Radar that provides laser rangefinding/designating and camera capabilities.
?General Characteristics, AH-1W Super Cobra
Manufacturer:
Bell Helicopter Textron
Unit Cost:
$10.7 million
Power Plant:
Two General Electric T700-GE-401 engines
Thrust:
Full: 2082 shaft horsepower for 30 minutes (transmission limited)
Continuous: 1775 shaft horsepower
Length:
58 feet (17.67 meters)
Height:
13.7 feet (4.17 meters)
Rotor Diameter:
48 feet (14.62 meters)
Maximum Take-off Weight:
14,750 pounds (6,696.50 kilograms)
Maximum Speed:
180 knots
Ceiling:
18,700 feet (5703.5 meters) in basic combat attack configuration (limited to 10,000 feet (3050 kilometers) by oxygen requirements)
Range:
256 nautical miles (294.4 miles) in basic combat attack configuration
Crew:
Two officers
Armament:
One 20MM turreted cannon with 750 rounds
Four external wing stations that can fire 2.75"/5.0" rockets and a wide variety of precision guided missiles, including TOW/Hellfire (point target/anti-armor), Sidewinder (anti-air), Sidearm (anti-radar)
Introduction Date:
1986
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David
Thu January 16, 2003 10:39am
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UH-60 Blackhawk
Description: The Black Hawk is the Army?s front-line utility helicopter used for air assault, air cavalry, and aeromedical evacuation units. It is designed to carry 11 combat-loaded, air assault troops, and it is capable of moving a 105-millimeter howitzer and 30 rounds of ammunition. First deployed in 1978, the Black Hawk?s advanced technology makes it easy to maintain in the field. The Black Hawk has performed admirably in a variety of missions, including air assault, air cavalry and aeromedical evacuations. In addition, modified Black Hawks operate as command and control, electronic warfare, and special operations platforms.
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 speed of 163 mph (142 knots).
Elements of the U.S. Army Aviation UH-60A/l Blackhawk helicopter fleet will begin reaching their sevice life goal of 25 years in 2002. In order for the fleet to remain operationally effective through the time period 2025-2030 the aircraft will need to go through an inspection, refurbishment, and modernization process that will validate the structural integrity of the airframe, incorporate improvements in sub-systems so as to reduce maintenance requirements, and modernize the mission equipment and avionics to the levels compatible with Force XXI and Army After Next (AAN) demands.
A Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) is planned for the UH-60 beginning in FY99. The UH-60 modernization program will identify material requirements to effectively address known operational deficiencies to ensure the Black Hawk is equipped and capable of meeting battlefield requirements through the 2025-2030 timeframe. Primary modernization areas for consideration are: increased lift, advanced avionics (digital communications and navigation suites), enhanced aircraft survivability equipment (ASE), increased reliability and maintainability (R & M), airframe service life extension (SLEP), and reduced operations and support (O & S) costs. Suspense date for the approved Operational Requirements Document (ORD) is December 1998.
History: The UH-60A, first flown in October 1974, was developed as a result of the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) program. The UTTAS was designed for troop transport, command and control, MedEvac, and reconnaissance, to replace the UH-1 Series "Huey" in the combat assault role. In August 1972, the U.S. Army selected the Sikorsky (model S-70) YUH-60A and the Boeing Vertol (model 237) YUH-61A (1974) as competitors in the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) program. The Boeing Vertol YUH-61A had a four-bladed composite rotor, was powered by the same General Electric T700 engine as the Sikorsky YUH-60A, and could carry 11 troops. In December 1976 Sikorsky won the competition to produce the UH-60A, subsequently named the Black Hawk.
Variants: The Army began fielding the UH-60 in 1978. From 1978 until 1989 the Army procured UH-60A model aircraft. In October 1989, a power train upgrade resulted in a model designation change from UH-60A to UH-60L. The UH-60L version that provides 24 percent more power than the original 1970 UH-60A model. As of the end of FY97, the Army had procured 483 UH-60L models for a total UH-60 acquisition of 1,463 aircraft. The Army is in the fifth and final year of a multi-year procurement contract calling for the delivery of 60 aircraft per year.
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.
The UH-60 Firehawk is a Reseach and Development program to provide the UH-60 series helicopter with both a wartime and peacetime fire fighting capability by use of a detachable 1,000 gal. belly tank. Qualification issues include design and testing required to maintain the combat capabilities of the UH-60 Black Hawk and the safe flight envelope of the aircraft with the tank.
The EH-60A Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) variant has a unique external antenna designed to intercept and jam enemy communications. The EH-60E is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-700 1622 shp turboshaft engines.
The EH-60B version has a Stand-Off Target Acquisition System designed to detect the movement of enemy forces on the battlefield and relay the information to a ground station.
UH-60Q Medevac: The UH-60Q MEDEVAC helicopter provides significant enroute patient care enhancements. The UH-60Q provides a 6 patient litter system, on-board oxygen generation, and a medical suction system. UH-60Q is a UH-60A derivative and incorporates approximate UH-60A characteristics. It is simply the best in aeromedical evacuation. Building on the BLACK HAWK's heritage of saving lives in Grenada, Panama, Kuwait and Somalia, the UH-60Q delivers exceptional patient care, increased survivability, longer range, greater speed and added missions capability. For military combatants. War victims. Civilians injured in natural disasters. It has a state-of-the-art medical interior that can accomodate a crew of three and up to six acute care patients. The UH-60Q's leading-edge technology incorporates an improved environmental control system. Cardiac monitoring systems. Oxygen generation, distribution and suction systems. Airway management capability. Provision for stowing IV solutions. And an external electrical rescue hoist. And in addition to extensive immediate care, the UH-60Q can perform all weather terrain battlefield evacuation, combat search and rescue, hospital ship lifeline missions, deep operations support, forward surgical team transport, medical logistics resupply, medical personnel movement, patient regulating, disaster/humanitarian relief, and MAST/HELP state support.
The UH-60Q's medical interior can accomodate three to six acute care patients and their medical attendants. Ergonomic design has maximized the UH-60Q cabin space, placing sophisticated, life-saving instruments and equipment at the fingertips of the medical attendants. A unique platform design allows the interior to transport either six litter of seven ambulatory systems, oxygen distribution and suction systems, airway management capability, and provisions for stowing intravenous solutions. The interior also features these additional capabilities, essentical to providing the highest degree of patient care when every second counts:
- Oxygen Generating Systems
- NVG Compatible Lighting Throughout
- Environmental Control System
- Medical Equipment
- Patient Monitoring Equipment
- Neonatal Isolettes
Modernizing the Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) system is the Army Surgeon General's number one near term priority. The UH-60Q communications architecture provides situational awareness and digital communications and is expected to be the model for anticipated fleet-wide improvements to the UH-60. Other improvements include integrated Doppler/GPS, Personnel Locator System, NVG interior lighting, and FLIR.
General Characteristics, UH-60 Black Hawk
Contractor:
Sikorsky
Power Plant:
Two T700-GE-701Cs
Thrust:
3,120 shaft horsepower
Length:
64 feet, 7 inches (19.7 meters)
Height:
16 feet, 10 inches
Main Rotor Diameter:
53 feet, 6 inches (16.3 meters)
Weight:
11,500 pounds
External Cargo Hook:
Handles up to 8000 pounds (3629 kilograms)
Maximum Speed:
150 knots
Ceiling:
19,000 feet (5,790 meters)
Range:
315 nautical miles
Crew:
Two pilots and two crew; 11 to 14 armed troops
Armament:
Up to two 7.62mm M60 machine guns in cabin
Two 7.62-mm (0.3-in) miniguns or two GECAL 0.50-in Gatling guns on pintle mount
Date Deployed:
1978
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David
Thu January 16, 2003 10:39am
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UH-1N Iroquois
Function: The UH-1N is a light-lift Air Force utility helicopter used for support of Department of Defense contingency plans. The helicopter has a number of uses. Its primary mission includes airlift of emergency security and disaster response forces, medical evacuation, security surveillance of off-base movements of nuclear weapons convoys and test range areas during launch conditions. It is also used for space shuttle landing support, priority maintenance dispatch support, and search and rescue operations. Other uses include airlift of missile support personnel, airborne cable inspections and distinguished visitor transport.
History: The UH-1N entered the Air Force inventory in 1970 to provide search and rescue capabilities. The missions expanded to include missile, distinguished visitor and survival school support. Some of the UH-1Fs supporting the missile wings were eventually replaced by the UH-1N due to the greater safety and capability offered by the twin engine. Manufactured by Bell Helicopter/Textron Inc., the UH-1N is the military version of the Bell 212.
Description: The UH-1N is capable of flight in instrument and nighttime conditions. The crew complement is normally two (pilot and copilot), but may be flown single-pilot depending on weather and mission requirements. The crew complement for hoist, over water and navigational operations is three, adding a flight engineer. When configured for passengers, the UH-1N can seat up to 13 people, but actual passenger loads are dependent on fuel loads and atmospheric conditions. The medical evacuation configuration can accommodate up to six litters. Without seats or litters, the cabin can carry bulky, oversized cargo. Access to the cabin is through two full-sized sliding doors, one on each side of the aircraft.
General Characteristics, UH-1N Huey
Contractor:
Bell Helicopter Company
Power Plant:
Two Pratt and Whitney T400-CP-400 turboshaft engines
Thrust:
1,770 horsepower
Length:
57 feet, 3 inches (17.44 meters)
Width:
9 feet, 5 inches (2.87 meters)
Height:
12 feet, 10 inches (3.9 meters)
Main Rotor Diameter:
48 feet (14.63 meters)
Tail Rotor Diameter:
8 feet, 6 inches (2.6 meters)
Maximum Gross Weight:
10,500 pounds (4,763 kilograms)
Maximum Speed:
149 mph (130 knots)
Cruise Speed:
103-115 mph (90-100 knots)
Ceiling:
15,000 feet (4,572 meters)
10,000 feet (3,048 meters) for gross weights above 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms)
Range:
300-plus miles
Crew:
Pilot with co-pilot and flight engineer, depending upon mission
Inventory:
Active force, 63
Reserve, 0
ANG, 0
Date Deployed:
1970
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David
Sat January 18, 2003 8:34am
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A 58th Special Operations
A 58th Special Operations Wing, 551st Special Operations Squadron, MH-53J Pave Low IIIE flies a training mission near Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. The MH-53J's mission is to perform low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. The MH-53J Pave Low III heavy-lift helicopter is the largest and most powerful helicopter in the Air Force inventory, and the most technologically advanced helicopter in the world. Its terrain-following, terrain-avoidance radar and forward-looking infrared sensor, along with a projected map display, enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible. The 58th SOW offers more than 90 courses for special operations and combat search and rescue troops at Kirtland. Courses include transition and instruments, aerial refueling, airdrops, helicopter hoist and combat tactics training. The wing trains some 1,600 students each year in HH-60 Pave Hawk, UH-1N Huey, TH-53A and MH-53J Pave Low IIIE helicopters, and MC-130 Combat Talon and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft.
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David
Sat January 18, 2003 8:34am
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A 58th Special Operations
A 58th Special Operations Wing, 551st Special Operations Squadron, MH-53J Pave Low IIIE flies a training mission near Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. The MH-53J's mission is to perform low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. The MH-53J Pave Low III heavy-lift helicopter is the largest and most powerful helicopter in the Air Force inventory, and the most technologically advanced helicopter in the world. Its terrain-following, terrain-avoidance radar and forward-looking infrared sensor, along with a projected map display, enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible. The 58th SOW offers more than 90 courses for special operations and combat search and rescue troops at Kirtland. Courses include transition and instruments, aerial refueling, airdrops, helicopter hoist and combat tactics training. The wing trains some 1,600 students each year in HH-60 Pave Hawk, UH-1N Huey, TH-53A and MH-53J Pave Low IIIE helicopters, and MC-130 Combat Talon and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft.
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David
Sat January 18, 2003 8:34am
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A 58th Special Operations
A 58th Special Operations Wing, 551st Special Operations Squadron, MH-53J Pave Low IIIE flies a training mission near Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. The MH-53J's mission is to perform low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. The MH-53J Pave Low III heavy-lift helicopter is the largest and most powerful helicopter in the Air Force inventory, and the most technologically advanced helicopter in the world. Its terrain-following, terrain-avoidance radar and forward-looking infrared sensor, along with a projected map display, enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible. The 58th SOW offers more than 90 courses for special operations and combat search and rescue troops at Kirtland. Courses include transition and instruments, aerial refueling, airdrops, helicopter hoist and combat tactics training. The wing trains some 1,600 students each year in HH-60 Pave Hawk, UH-1N Huey, TH-53A and MH-53J Pave Low IIIE helicopters, and MC-130 Combat Talon and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft.
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David
Sat January 18, 2003 8:34am
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A 58th Special Operations
A 58th Special Operations Wing, 551st Special Operations Squadron, MH-53J Pave Low IIIE flies a training mission near Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. The MH-53J's mission is to perform low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. The 58th SOW offers more than 90 courses for special operations and combat search and rescue troops at Kirtland. Courses include transition and instruments, aerial refueling, airdrops, helicopter hoist and combat tactics training. The wing trains some 1,600 students each year in HH-60 Pave Hawk, UH-1N Huey, TH-53A and MH-53J Pave Low IIIE helicopters, and MC-130 Combat Talon and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft.
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David
Sat January 18, 2003 8:34am
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A 58th Special Operations
A 58th Special Operations Wing TH-53A flies a training mission near Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. The TH-53A is the first model of the H-53 helicopter students learn to fly before going to the more advanced MH-53J Pave Low IIIE. The 58th SOW offers more than 90 courses for special operations and combat search and rescue troops at Kirtland. Courses include transition and instruments, aerial refueling, airdrops, helicopter hoist and combat tactics training. The wing trains some 1,600 students each year in HH-60 Pave Hawk, UH-1N Huey, TH-53A and MH-53J Pave Low IIIE helicopters, and MC-130 Combat Talon and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft.
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David
Sat January 18, 2003 8:34am
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The UH-1N is a light-lift
The UH-1N is a light-lift Air Force utility helicopter used for support of Department of Defense contingency plans. The helicopter has a number of uses. Its primary mission includes airlift of emergency security and disaster response forces, medical evacuation, security surveillance of off-base movements of nuclear weapons convoys and test range areas during launch conditions. It is also used for space shuttle landing support, priority maintenance dispatch support, and search and rescue operations. Other uses include airlift of missile support personnel, airborne cable inspections and distinguished visitor transport.
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David
Thu April 17, 2003 1:23pm
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Losing a son
Wednesday, April 2, 2003, In her kitchen near Sherwood, Ore., an anguished Rosary Contreras talks to a friend Tuesday night about the death of her son, Marine Capt. Aaron J. Contreras. Contreras and two other U.S. servicemen died when their UH-1 Huey helicopter crashed Sunday at a forward supply and refueling point in southern Iraq, the Defense Department said.
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 8:43pm
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AN/GAU-17 7.62mm Machine
Description: With the introduction of helicopters to the modern battlefield, the M61 system was redesigned and scaled down for use as a helicopter weapon system. Designated the M134, this new weapon was similar to the M61A1 but it fired the much smaller 7.62mm percussion primed rifle cartridge. Capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute, the M134 was used on a number of helicopters, such as the UH-1 Iroquois, OH-6 Cayuse, and AH-1 Cobra, as well as the AC-47 gunship, during the Vietnam War. In these cases the M134 was part of an armament system and fired by either the pilot or co-pilot. The M134 also saw service in the Vietnam War in a number of under wing pods, allowing aircraft such as the AD-1 Sky Raider to deliver tremendous amounts of firepower in CAS missions.
The crew served version of the M134 is the GAU-17. Fired from a pintle mount on the helicopter fuselage, the GAU-17 is very similar to the M134 except that it is equipped with a "high" (4,000 rpm) and "low" (2,000 rpm) selector switch. The GAU-17 is currently in service on the UH-1N, H-3, and H-60 helicopters, as well as a number of American Special Operations aircraft and helicopters.
Background: Soon after the end of the Second World War the newly formed United States Air Force identified a need for an improved gun system for its aircraft. While adequate as an air combat / ground attack weapon during World War Two, the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun had been rendered obsolete by jet aircraft and needed to be replaced by a weapon with increased range, rate of fire, and projectile lethality. Realizing that singled barreled automatic weapons had essentially reached their design limits, the U.S. Army Ordnance Research and Development Service hit on the idea of re-introducing the multi-barreled rotary weapon invented by Richard J. Gatling in the 1880s. Initial tests proved promising as a vintage Gatling gun, now powered by an electric motor in place of the usual hand crank, was able to achieve rates of fire in excess of 4,000 rounds per minute.
In 1946 the General Electric company received the contract for this new program, code named "Project Vulcan," and was tasked with producing functional prototypes in a number of calibers for further testing. In 1952 GE produced three different guns; .60 caliber, 20mm, and 27mm. After extensive testing, the 20mm version was selected for further testing to determine its suitability as an aircraft mounted weapon. In 1956 the gun was standardized as the M61 20mm cannon and entered service with both the United States Army and Air Force.
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