Military Helicopters
Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican
ICAO: HH3F
Overview
The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a twin-engine utility helicopter developed for the United States Army. Designed for troop transport, medevac, and logistical missions, it has become one of the most widely used military helicopters in the world. Its versatility has led to numerous variants.
Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 2 × General Electric T700-GE-701C
- Engine type
- Turboshaft
- Power
- 2 × 1,800 shp · 1,342 kW
- Avionics
- —
- Wing tips
- No winglets
- Seats
- 14
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- 7 ft 7 in · 2.30 m
- Cabin height
- 4 ft 7 in · 1.40 m
- Cabin length
- 12 ft 6 in · 3.80 m
- Exterior length
- 64 ft 10 in · 19.76 m
- Tail height
- —
- Fuselage diameter
- —
- Wing span
- 53 ft 8 in · 16.36 m
- Baggage volume
- 35 ft³ · 1.0 m³
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 23,500 lb · 10,700 kg
- Max landing weight
- —
- Max payload
- 8,000 lb · 3,650 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 360 gal · 1,400 L · 1,100 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 150 kt · 173 mph · 278 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- —
- Range
- 276 nm · 320 mi · 510 km
- Fuel burn
- 0.76 nm/gal · 0.37 km/L
- Ceiling
- 19,000 ft · 5,800 m
- Rate of climb
- 700 ft/min · 4 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- —
- Landing distance
- —
Gallery
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Operational Context
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk — medium-lift military utility helicopter
The UH-60 program began in the 1970s under the U.S. Army’s Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System competition. The prototype first flew in 1974, and the helicopter entered service in 1979. It replaced the UH-1 Huey with improved lift, survivability, and twin-engine redundancy.
Powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines, the Black Hawk can cruise at around 150 knots (280 km/h). It typically carries 11 fully equipped troops and has a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 22,000 pounds (10,000 kg) depending on variant. The design emphasizes crashworthiness, ballistic tolerance, and modular adaptability.
The UH-60 has served in conflicts from the 1980s to the present day and is operated by numerous countries. Specialized versions include medevac, command, and naval adaptations. Its longevity and adaptability have cemented its role as a central platform in modern military aviation.