Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk) Special-Mission Helicopter (2024)



United States | 2008



"The Sikorsky S-70 is a specialized version of the American military UH-60L Black Hawk transport helicopter - capable of undertaking varied roles."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 01/08/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The S-70 is a special-mission helicopter platform developed by Sikorsky and based on the company's S-70/UH-60 "Black Hawk" twin-engine transport airframe. The latest variant being offered is based in the S-70i manufactured under license by Sikorsky subsidiary PZL Mielec of Poland while earlier marks include the S-70A and S-70C Firehawks. The Firehawk is a specialized fire-fighting derivative while the S-70i has been outfitted to cover special operations support - showcasing the type's inherent versatility.

The fire-fighting Firehawk's design includes an external rescue hoist off the starboard side of the fuselage. Internally, it seats its two pilots side-by-side at the front and a complete fire crew of twelve in the passenger section. The hold can also carry up to two medical litters and limited staff for the MEDEVAC role. The Rockwell Collins-designed co*ckpit supports Night-Vision (NV) equipment, a digital automatic flight control system and is of an all-modern, all-glass design. A tactical communications system provides the operating crew with a link to ground units. A searchlight is available for low-light-level and nighttime operations. Under the fuselage is housed a 1,000 gallon water tank with a built-in retractable snirkel capable of filling said tank in under a minute. The tank a development of Aero Union of Chico, California.

Externally, the Firehawk series retains much of the form-and-function of the U.S. Army's Black Hawk transport series. It sports a twin engine side-by-side layout driving a four-bladed (wide-chord) main rotor assembly over the passenger section and a four-bladed anti-torque rotor unit at the tail (facing starboard). The undercarriage is wheeled, fixed in flight and of a tail-dragger arrangement (also designed to clear the under-belly water tank). The aircraft includes the usual window fittings to provide the best situational awareness possible for pilots and crew. The pilots enter-exit by way of hinged automobile-style doors while access to the passenger section is by way of the traditional sliding doors.

Power is from 2 x General Electric T700-701D series turboshaft engines developing 1,940 horsepower each.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department of a notable operator of the Firehawk, they relying on the earlier S-70A Firehawk variant.

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September 2018 - With ongoing fires in California, United Rotorcraft will be converting a pair of former United States Army HH-60L Black Hawk helicopters to the Firehawk role for the Ventura County Fire Department. These are set to be delivered sometime in 2019.

January 2020 - The nation of Poland has received four S-70i helicopters to cover a special forces requirement. These helicopters were ordered in 2019 and have been produced in Poland under license under the PZL brand label.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Sikorsky S-70i Special-Mission Helicopter.

2 x General Electric T700-701D turboshaft engines developing 1,940 horsepower and driving a four-bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor.
Propulsion

224 mph
360 kph | 194 kts
Max Speed

20,013 ft
6,100 m | 4 miles
Service Ceiling

289 miles
465 km | 251 nm
Operational Range

2,250 ft/min
686 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

LON

PAR

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

TOK

SYD

SYD

LAX

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Sikorsky S-70i Special-Mission Helicopter.

2
(MANNED)
Crew

64.8 ft
19.75 m
O/A Length

53.6 ft
(16.35 m)
O/A Width

57.4 ft
(17.50 m)
O/A Height

11,795 lb
(5,350 kg)
Empty Weight

22,046 lb
(10,000 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk) Special-Mission Helicopter .

None. Firefighting equipment installed.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk) family line.

S-70 - Base Series Designation
S-70A "Firehawk" - Firefighting platform based on the UH-60L Black Hawk military transport model.
S-70C - Alternative commercial variant.
S-70i - Modernized variant with improvements throughout; based in the S-70i International Black Hawk variant produced by Sikorsky subsidiary PZL of Poland.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 50 Units

Contractor(s): Sikorsky / United Rotorcraft - USA

[ Poland; United States ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 300mph

Lo: 150mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (224mph).


Graph Average of 225 MPH.

Era Crossover

Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk) Special-Mission Helicopter (5)

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk) Special-Mission Helicopter (6)

Production Comparison

50

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030

Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to airborne requirements.

MEDEVAC

SEARCH & RESCUE

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Going Further...
The Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk) Special-Mission Helicopter appears in the following collections:

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Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk) Special-Mission Helicopter (2024)
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