Few Western aerospace design and manufacturing firms can boast an aircraft so successful that it is flown by every branch of the U.S. military, plus the Coast Guard and dozens of countries, with over 4,000 aircraft being built in dozens of configurations. No, it’s not the Lockheed C-130 Hercules or Bell UH-1 Huey. We’re talking the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter.
On this episode, U.S. Navy Commander Jeremiah "FRANK" Ragadio joins us to discuss the numerous H-60 variants, primarily the Blackhawk and Seahawk, but also the Jayhawk and Pavehawk. “FRANK,” a career Seahawk pilot currently in training to assume a leadership position in a sea-going MH-60R squadron, offers a fascinating look at not only all the H-60 variants, but its armament and performance as well.
During the listener question segment we discuss land-based Navy squadrons, S-3 radio limitations, and aircraft carrier landing F/A-18E/F weight limits & ordnance considerations.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Jim Hendershot.