Ride Inside a Spec Ops Rescue Helo: Air Force’s HH-60 Pave Hawk
- Posted on September 7, 2011 at 3:23pm by
Buck Sexton
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We know when the U.S. has a man down behind enemy lines, the Air Force Parajumpers go in for the rescue. Now, we take a look at how the PJs get there:
It’s called the HH-60 Pave Hawk. And it‘s the Air Force’s chopper-of-choice for missions ranging from retrieving downed pilots to picking up civilians caught in a disaster zone.
In essence, the Pave Hawk is a highly modified Blackhawk helicopter. Manufactured by Sikorsky, the juiced up Hawk can reach speeds in excess of 200 mph.
The HH-60′s electronics are a substantial bump up from the typical UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The Air Force describes the HH-60′s equipment as including:
“an upgraded communications and navigation suite that includes integrated inertial navigation/global positioning/Doppler navigation systems, satellite communications, secure voice, and Have Quick communications.”
These hi-tech improvement, alongside the all-weather capability powered by its twin General Electric engines, make the HH-60 an ideal platform for combat search and rescue. In situations ranging from Operation Enduring Freedom to Hurricane Katrina relief, the Hawk has flown more rescue ops than almost any other aircraft in the Air Force.
But like its forefather the UH-60 Blackhawk, the HH-60 is outfitted to defend itself in low altitude areas. It can suppress ground-fire or support of a PJ team insertion once it has touched ground. The Hawk carries either two 7.62 mm miniguns, or dual .50 caliber machine guns.
Here is the doorgunner on an HH-60 letting off some rounds with the mini-gun:
The HH-60 has substantial combat upgrades which include a radar warning receiver, infrared jammer and a countermeasure dispensing system to release flares or chaff. This allows it to drop off or pick up its payload safely, and make it out of enemy territory even if there are anti-aircraft measures with which to contend.
Another essential aspect of its design is the Hawk’s in-flight refueling capability. A C-130 can refuel the Hawk in-air, allowing the helo to penetrate deep behind enemy lines.
Its extended fuel capacity and all-weather design allows the Hawk to give you a lift where others couldn’t, which is critical for a SEAL looking for a ride home out of hostile territory, or a mountain climber stranded at 11,000 feet.
Watch this video to see the HH-60 in action, courtesy of The Daily:
Also, click here to see the military’s A-10 Warthog aircraft, which The Blaze brought to you yesterday.
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dcart888
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:04pmHeros. who went into Katrina and saved lives so I guess former Bush loves black people contrary to liberal mantra
Report Post »OldVietVet
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:13pmI tracked many a chopper over PIRAZ at night! I respect these guys and pray I never have to use their “services” because most of the friends I lost, (ie; killed or mia), were in helicopters when they bought the farm!
Report Post »mikee1
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 9:57amIf aircraft like this were used to transport our Seals, all of them would not be dead. Is our military leadership as stupid as the politicians or do they just not care or both? Better yet, why are these hot spot areas not just being hit with air strikes. Even in Nam, not a pc war, NAPALM BURNED ALIVE EVERYONE WHERE THE ENEMY WAS CONGREGATED , LIKE IN BIN LADEN’S PLACE. I do not believe that Bin Laden is really dead. Bush and Odumbo have gotten thousands of Americans killed in their failed PC WARS. STOP THEM NOW.
Report Post »arbky
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:04amWe don’t know the details. I suspect that a ground-to-air missle hit our copter. I wonder if the 130 is similarly vulnerable.
Report Post »Southern Christian
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:35amThe aircraft used by the SEALS in the raid on UBL was a previously unknown stealth version of the same basic helicopter. Believe me the SEALS have the most sophisticated equipment known to man.
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 9:42amHero‘s saving Hero’s! God Bless Them ALL!
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 2:17amI SO LOVE this stuff! Thanks Blaze! MORE!!!!
Report Post »markjz
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 11:42pmI used to work on those mini guns. got to shoot them once too.
Report Post »AirRescuer
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 10:45pmNice article, as a retired HH60G Combat Rescue Pilot it is nice to see something about the the machine that pulls everyone out in all kinds of environments and conditions. Most articles are about the PJs.
Report Post »ProudPJ
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 7:53pmWell, I think you guys are awesome. Thank you so much for holding a solid hover when my ass was hangin’ in the wind. You guys were the best pilots I had the honor of flying with. From a retired PJ, thank you very much for the good times.
Report Post »stage9
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 10:17pmI’ve already ridden in a real one. Actually almost fell out of one….very disconcerting feeling to look down and see nothing but earth.
Report Post »notmeatglennbeckdotcom
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:55pmOnce again we reveal our stuff to the world. Doesn’t seem to be intimidating anyone. Maybe if we blew s*** up every now and then instead of policing the world and showing restraint we would instill some fear.
God bless our troops – I only wish they would be allowed to wage war!
Report Post »rcampb10
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 5:10amAmen Brother!
Report Post »STS2_SS_Iver
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:17amAgree.
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:08pmOh be still my heart. Pave Hawk, a new name in death dealing.
Report Post »gguynn
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:58pmJust another Helo without the PJ’s in it. Hoo Ya.
Report Post »westy98530
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:40pmAnd a PJ is just another N.U.B. without these guys to take them into battle.
Report Post »MUDFLAPS
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:39pmWe used to love watching the cobras at night when we were in VietNam. They rained pure hell fire down on the dinks. If it werent for the bastards in DC we would have won that war.
Report Post »Leningradcowboy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:06pmAmen to that. Semper Fi!
I wonder why the chair force is getting all the press, when Marines and Soldiers do all the heavy lifting. My guess is that they are trying to justify the costs of new planes and avoid bringing up the huge Stealth fighter grounding issues.
Report Post »jmvbear
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:51pmMudflaps THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your service and may The Good Lord Bless you!
Report Post »jvlag3
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 6:23am@Leningradcowboy you’re an idiot! Hope you never need rescued by the “chair force”, you would be the last person I’d pick up….
Report Post »FLyoverman
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:28pmIn another 30 years when the UH-60 is at the end of its operational life, the last UH-60 will fly to the aircraft storage facility in Tuscon, Arizona. There will be a stirring ceremony with many speeches recounting how this fine machine served so honorably an effectively on the front lines of freedom.
The National Anthem will be played and the honored crew will render a final salute to this great machine. Many tears will flow.
…… and then the crew will fly back home in a Huey. The gold standard for Army helicopters.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:22pmI remember them when they were new to the Navy fleet…I worked on the old SH2F Sea Sprites. Darnit!
Report Post »DirtyDeeds
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 10:49pmI think you are right! Haha
Report Post »DirtyDeeds
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 10:52pmI do believe you will be proven correct.
Report Post »stinkybisquit
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:40pmMr. Sexton, are you taunting us with these military machine films? If so, KEEP IT UP!!! I Love them.
Report Post »RA0725
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:32pmRelocate the squadrons to the Southwest US. Training missions can support border patrol. More bang for our buck so to speak.
Report Post »STS2_SS_Iver
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:19amNice. Great idea.
Report Post »nappy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:29pmWas lucky enough to have dome some work for the AC130. If everyone knew what our military was actually about there would be far less radical nutjobs whining on the streets about it.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:36pmNo, they would still be whining alright. I mean, what else do they have to do? It’s not like any of them have jobs or anything meaningful in their miserable little lives…….
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:28pmThese Air Force Special Ops guys risk their lives without hesitation. Many downed flyers and other Spec Ops people owe their lives to them. 5 by brothers.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:22pmHey! I’m the rangemaster here…now you go pick up that brass right now!
Report Post »Reavin
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:29pmI was wondering about that myself. Wonder why they don’t keep the brass, at least in a PR/Training situation Guess that would make too much sense, though.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:17pmcan we have them patrol our Mexican border? thnx
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:45pmPerhaps they can “rescue” Mexican nationals who have lost their way and wandered across the border. With re-fueling capabilities, we can even offer to drop them off a good 1,000 miles from the area, so they do not make the same territorial error again.
Report Post »FishyGov
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:09pmNot sure this is a story.
Is it a commercial?
How much will it cost and what colors does in come in. I probably won’t be needing all of the add-on packages so just email me the cost of the stock version.
Report Post »wallyworld
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:05pmGreat aircraft. Not a bad article, but I’m afraid the HH-60G will not achieve a forward speed of 200 miles per hour. More like 150 knots max cruise (about 170 miles per hour).
Report Post »westy98530
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:20pmI’ve taken many an MH-60S over 170 knots with just a moderate descent. That’s about 200 mph. As I recall, the G has bigger engines as well – perhaps they could pull it off in level flight.
Report Post »AWAKENEDAWARE
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 3:50pmSemper Fi zoomies! Rock ON! God bless and God speed!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 3:30pmSikorsky is about 15 minutes from me. I kayak on the river and see them all the time . A thrill goes up my leg. An AC_130 goes over about 3 times a week at a low altitude. Go Air Force
Report Post »wallyworld
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:08pmNot to nit-pick, but you’re not seeing AC-130′s. You might be seeing C-130′s, but the AC-130 is a different animal altogether. The AC-130 is the Spectre gunship.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:43pmNotice the flaps are down on the C-130 refueling the chopper. The Herc is flying about as slow as he can and the chopper is going about top speed.Reminds me when we went TDY to Nellis with our A-10′s.I got to go into the gondala on a KC-10 tanker to watch the A-10′s do inflight refueling. The KC-10 had slats out and flaps down and flying at high angle of attack (AOA) flying as slow as possible for the A-10′s to keep up.
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:21pm@ Bommusgo, I spent my years stationed at Nellis, 95-98. I loved it there, got to see just about every plane the AF had plus many from around the world. I was so happy when they retired the F-4 Phantoms. Those had to be the loudest plane in the AF, they would drive me crazy shaking my dorm constantly. I believe we had a group stationed at Nellis. As I am sure you know, we had the Pave Hawks stationed there as apart of the 66th, I believe, but may got the squadron wrong. I did love when the A-10′s would be there for training. AWESOME !!
Report Post »I was also honored to be at Nellis while the AF had it’s 50th Anniversary and an air show with standing and past inventory on display. Amazing to see the inventory of planes. This is back when the drones where practicing at Indian Springs, just north of Nellis. They had one on display at the show, this was before they started arming them. For anybody who would like to read a good book on the US‘s superior air power and very interesting story’s about experimentation and amazing real stories, get the book Lockhead Martin’s Skunkworks: The Official History. You can pick it up for 5$’s on Amazon. This has to be one of my favorites. Talks about the SR-71, U-2, F-22 and the F-117 plus other’s. This is the story of how a successful small group achieved amazing results. Too bad all of Lockhead couldn’t be so efficient.
M100Spiral
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:37pm@HOBBS57
I worked on F-4Ds, F-4Es, and RF-4s, as well as OV-10s. Most Vietnam Vets praise the F-4. I never heard a negative remark about the planes from them.
Yes, they were loud. And, often, they lift off like those models in the Flash Gordon Series (the 1954 series). But, in 1959, the F-4 set 15 world records, including an absolute speed record, and an absolute altitude record. Its top speed was Mach 2.2.
You must keep in mind that they were the first fighter jets designed by America. For a beginner fighter model, they were AWESOME.
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:46pm@ M100 – Yes they were great planes. I always remember them because they are what Regan used to blow up the French Embassy when they were budding up to Ghadaffi. Goodness that man has been around forever…
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 3:30pmSweet…. Another addition to my Christmas wish list this year….. ;)
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