Black Hawk used often by military | Bryan/College Station, Texas

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Published Wednesday, January 14, 2009 6:05 AM

Black Hawk used often by military

By MATTHEW WATKINS
matthew.watkins@theeagle.com

The Black Hawk helicopter has been widely used by the military and many other organizations worldwide since 1979, said former Marine test pilot Col. Bill Lawrence.

It weighs more than 20,000 pounds and can hold 11 combat-equipped troops seated on two benches in the back, according to the Army.

The copter is manufactured by United Technologies and General Electric, according to the Army's Web site.

It was made famous by the book and subsequent movie Black Hawk Down about a helicopter shot down in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993.

"I think maybe because of the battle in Mogadishu, people think that it is a dangerous aircraft, but I don't necessarily agree with that," Lawrence said. "I actually think that it is one of the safer helicopters around."

Non-combat-related crashes for the vehicle are rare, he said.

A crew of four -- two pilots and two crew chiefs -- operates the machine. It is heavily armored and has side doors that can open to allow machine gunners to operate.

The frame of the vehicle is designed to "progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and its passengers," according to the Army's Web site.

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Posted by: Mara On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title:
BlackHawks are not any more dangerous than any of the other helicopters in the air every day. In the past few months, I've seen several reports of medical helicopters crashing ... I don't see LoserPolice complaining about them. As the wife of a service member I have ridden in a BlackHawk to take my week old baby to the main hospital in Seoul when we were stationed in Korea. While the event scared the living daylights out of me at the time (I don't even like flying in airplanes, much less something with no doors) I can honestly say after the fact that the problem was in my head rather than the machine. Unfortunately, accidents happen whether you're in a car, commercial bus, airplane or BlackHawk. My heart goes out to the victims and their families and they are in my prayers.

Posted by: Loser Police On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title:
OK, that's fine. But don't use them on college campuses and near neighborhoods! Go play GI Joe at Fort Hood, losers.