Sikorsky Aircraft's UH-60M BLACK HAWK #1 took to the Florida skies on September 17th, completing a flawless first flight. The new aircraft is designed to replace the UH-60L as the standard configuration for all new Army BLACK HAWK production in 2007.

BLACK HAWK pilots Kevin Bredenbeck and Chris Geanacopoulos guided the helicopter through a 75-minute flight over the Sikorsky Flight Development Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, performing all normal shakedown maneuvers for the new systems and instrumentation equipment aboard the upgraded UH-60M. The aircraft met all objectives of the aggressive flight test development schedule, achieving forward flight out to 120 knots and successfully executing 45-degree turns.

"This is a triumphant and historic day for both Sikorsky and the U.S. Army," said company President Steve Finger. "Years of work have culminated in the UH-60M, offering more power, maneuverability, and survivability than ever before."

"On the occasion of the first flight of the U.S. Army's UH-60M BLACK HAWK, I am proud to be a part of the very talented government-contractor team that saw this event through from mere concept only a few short years ago, " added LTC Keith Robinson, U.S. Army Program Manager for the UH-60M. "The fact that this team was able to achieve first flight two days early is a testament to their dedication to provide the Army with the world's most advanced utility helicopter, one that will be a significant enabler to all services on the Future Force battlefield."

Aircraft #1, originally a UH-60A model, is the test vehicle for airframe issues such as performance and handling. Extensive flight testing will be required because the UH-60M incorporates new GE T700-701D engines, wide chord rotor blades, a new stabilator system and many other changes in various gyros and accelerometers.

Also slated for upcoming flight tests is UH-60M #2, a former UH-60L, which will serve as the avionics test aircraft. Flight testing will focus on the glass cockpit displays, the Embedded GPS Inertial (EGI) navigation system and the 4-axis fully-coupled autopilot.
 
There are presently four BLACK HAWKs in the development program-a UH-60A, UH-60L, and a UH-60Q medevac variant as well as a new production UH-60M. After completion of the first four aircraft, work on the low rate initial production UH-60M aircraft will begin in 2004 and will eventually increase to a maximum of 90 existing aircraft inducted per year by 2012.

The U.S. Army's aviation modernization plan calls for improvements to the UH-60 BLACK HAWK that will position it as the service's primary utility helicopter for decades to come. The Army could decide to upgrade up to 1,200 existing UH-60A and UH-60L aircraft and purchase 300 new production BLACK HAWKs that together will provide greater capabilities, a larger payload and lower maintenance costs than current UH-60A and UH-60L models. The overhaul is expected to span 25 years.

The ruggedness and survivability of the BLACK HAWK, combined with its multi-mission flexibility, have made it the world's standard for medium-lift utility helicopters. Sikorsky has delivered more than 2,500 HAWK family helicopters since 1978 and the aircraft have logged more than five million flying hours.

More than 2,000 H-60 BLACK HAWK and H-60 variants are flown by all five U.S. military services. More than 600 international S-70 variants, including SEAHAWK naval derivatives, are serving 25 international customers.

FMI: www.sikorsky.com