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Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk facts for kids

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Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk
S-70A.jpg
Australian Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk.
Role Helicopter
National origin USA
Manufacturer Sikorsky.
First flight 1974
Introduction 1979
Status Active
Primary user US Army
Produced In production.

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a very famous military helicopter made in the USA. It was built by a company called Sikorsky. This helicopter is a key part of the U.S. Army and is used for many important missions. It replaced an older helicopter known as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois. There are also special versions of the Black Hawk, like the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk and the Sikorsky VH-60N White Hawk.

What is the Black Hawk?

The Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter. This means it has four main rotor blades, two engines, and can carry a good amount of weight. It is designed to be very strong and reliable.

  • It can carry up to 11 soldiers with their gear.
  • It can also carry a lot of cargo, either inside or slung underneath.
  • The helicopter can be fitted with machine guns or rockets for combat missions.

History of the Black Hawk

The Black Hawk was first flown in 1974. It officially started being used by the U.S. Army in 1979. It was designed to be a better and faster helicopter than the ones used before.

  • It was built to handle tough conditions and different types of missions.
  • The Black Hawk quickly became a very important aircraft for the U.S. Army.
  • It has been used in many conflicts and humanitarian missions around the world.

How the Black Hawk is Used

The Black Hawk is a very versatile helicopter, meaning it can do many different jobs.

Transporting Troops and Supplies

One of its main jobs is to carry soldiers and their equipment quickly across battlefields. It can land in small areas, making it perfect for dropping off or picking up troops.

  • It helps move soldiers to where they are needed most.
  • It can also carry food, water, and other supplies to remote areas.

Medical Evacuation

Black Hawks are often used as "Medevac" helicopters. They can quickly pick up injured soldiers from dangerous places and take them to hospitals.

  • These helicopters are like flying ambulances.
  • They save many lives by getting help to people fast.

Combat and Special Operations

While it's mainly a transport helicopter, the Black Hawk can also be used in combat. It can be armed with machine guns to protect itself and the troops it carries.

  • Special versions are used by elite forces for secret missions.
  • These versions might have extra fuel tanks or special equipment.

Black Hawk Around the World

The Black Hawk is not just used by the U.S. Army. Many other countries around the world also use this helicopter.

  • Countries like Australia, Sweden, Japan, and Brazil have their own Black Hawks.
  • This shows how reliable and useful the helicopter is for different armies.

Images for kids

  • UH-60As over Port Salines airport Grenada 1983

    UH-60A Black Hawks over Port Salinas during the invasion of Grenada, 1983. The conflict saw the first use of the UH-60 in combat.

  • CSA-2005-05-05-102937

    UH-60s equipped with machine guns near An Najaf, Iraq in May 2005.

  • A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to the Colorado Army National Guard flies to perform a water drop while fighting the Black Forest Fire near Colorado Springs, Colo., June 12, 2013 130612-Z-UA373-388

    A view of a UH-60L cockpit

  • UH 60 cockpit over Hollywood

    View of cockpit area of a UH-60

  • Australian Army Black Hawk Zhu-2

    Australian Army S-70A-9

  • Philippine Air Force S-70i Black Hawk

    A Philippine Air Force S-70i Black Hawk landing at Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base on Mactan Island, Cebu

  • Swedish Helicopter Force UH-60

    A Swedish UH-60 landing during a demonstration

  • ROCA UH-60M Black Hawk

    A Republic of China Army UH-60M Black Hawk

  • Black Hawk Down Super64 over Mogadishu coast

    U.S. Army MH-60L during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993

  • MH-60M DAP firing 2.75 inch rockets at a test ground

    160th SOAR(A)'s MH-60 DAP fires its 2.75 in (7.0 cm) rockets on a U.S. Army test range

  • Two UH-60M, 160th SOAR on USS Bataan on 10 Feb. 2006

    MH-60M from the 160th SOAR(A) lands aboard the USS Bataan (LHD-5).

  • VH-60 Marine One (modified)

    VH-60Ns used to transport the President of the United States

  • Austrian Air Force S-70A42

    An Austrian Air Force S-70A42 lands in Paznaun valley

  • UH-60 Brazil (cropped)

    A UH-60 of the Brazilian Air Force

  • Hatzerim 270613 Blackhawk (remix) copy

    An Israeli Air Force UH-60 Yanshuf

  • JASDF UH-60J (cropped)

    A Japan Air Self-Defence Force UH-60J in flight

  • Jordanian Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter (cropped)

    A Royal Jordanian Air Force UH-60L on lift off

  • ROCAF S-70C Flying above Songshan Air Force Base (cropped)

    A ROCAF S-70C flying above Songshan Air Force Base

  • Thaiarmy UH60L engineoff

    Royal Thai Army UH-60L from the 9th flying unit in Lopburi province

  • US Army UH-60M (cropped)

    A US Army UH-60M from the 4th Assault Helicopter Battalion

See also

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