DID YOU KNOW? The US presidential helicopter is a Black Hawk variant, the VH-60, known as White Hawk
On 3 October 1993, American Rangers fl ew into Mogadishu, the capital
of Somalia, to capture a wanted terrorist leader. They swooped down on
the target’s base in a convoy of helicopters, with MH-60 Black Hawks
hovering overhead to provide support. However, when two of these
aircraft came under fi re, they crash-landed into the maze of streets and
alleyways below. What was supposed to be a smooth operation soon
turned into chaos as soldiers battled through the streets to reach the
downed aircraft and their stricken crew. The ensuing battle is now most
famously known as Black Hawk Down, due to the 1999 book of the same
name, which was adapted into the 2001 Oscar-winning fi lm.The Battle of Mogadishu
A Black Hawk fl ies over
Mogadishu during Operation
Restore Hope, a year before
the Battle of MogadishuTwin engines
Two General Electric engines
pack a combined 3,988 shaft
horsepower, enabling the
aircraft to reach a top speed
of 280km/h.Night vision
A forward looking infra-red (FLIR) video
camera pod captures the surrounding
environment and relays it to the pilot,
enabling safe fl ight in total darkness.Passengers
Up to 18 personnel can
be transported in the
rear of the aircraft,
which has an operational
range of over 2,200km.Radar
As well as GPS capability, the
MH-60 is fi tted with multi-mode
radar capable of tracking the
terrain below, even in poor
weather conditions.Safety features
The fuel tank, landing gear
and body frame are all
reinforced to protect the
crew in the event of a crash.
Even the pilots’ seats are
designed to absorb and
nullify any critical impact.The use of night-vision (infrared) technology
enables pilots to safely conduct special
operations in total darkness© A lamy; WIKI