Helicopters: How They Work

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.helicopterpage.com

Aircraft Specifications (Military)

Here are some of the specifications of a few of the U.S. Army helicopters that are either currently in, or have recently been in the inventory. All of the information has come directly from the -10 technical manuals. I have posted the proper TM (Technical Manual) where applicable. I was not able to get the shaft horsepower for the OH-58C, and the horsepower for the Blackhawk was derived from the Sikorsky web site for the new "H" model. I did this since the -10 manual for the "A" model did not have that information listed. The "G" model is not the current Cobra model for the Army or Marines, but it is the -10 manual I have, so that is the one I used. Currently, the Army uses the "Modernized S" model. The last "G" model I ever saw was with the Arkansas National Guard. I doubt if they are still in service. Either way, the new Army Cobra's can still not take off with a full fuel load and a full load of weaponry, and the basic airframe is the same. If someone out there has the SHP for the OH-58C, please send it along.

Update: 6/15/02: Sent by David R. Arrington, SFC, US Army, Retired via e-mail: "The UH-60A uses only T700-GE-700 engines while the UH-60L uses the 701C. The TMs now used (and for several years) has been the TM1-1520-237-10 and for all helicopters in the army inventory are now using TM1- (something) when referencing any aviation. Also, the max gross weight of both models was increased from 20,250 lbs to 22,000 which all models have been modified with slanted pitot tubes". Thank you David for that information.

Update 7/7/98: 1LT Morgan LaVake put an entry into my guestbook telling me that the OH-58C still produces 317 SHP(Same as the "A" model)because of the limitation for the transmission, but the engine is rated at 420 SHP (* See Chart Below). One may ask why do you put a bigger engine in if you are still limited by the transmission. The reason is that the smaller engine was severely temperature limited, and the limits of the transmission were rarely exceeded. The bigger engine gives better performance and less likelihood of over-temping.

In the same message, I was told that the Army now flies the "F" model AH-1 Cobra, but the only difference between that and the "S" model mentioned before, is in the avionics package now installed on the aircraft. Again, it is basically the same single engine Cobra that has been used for many years, just a new upgrade (Like Cobra '98???). Thanks to Morgan for sending the information. I really appreciate you helping me to stay as accurate as possible.

Aircraft Specifications (Civil)

Thanks to my friends at Bell Helicopter Textron who sent me mass quantities of information on their current models, I am able to pass along the information that I received about some of their aircraft. All of the information is straight from the 1998 literature given to customers by Bell. Some of the information was interpolated from the literature as it was printed. Thanks again to the great people at Bell for being so kind as to send the information to me.

For Emergency Procedures Only!