040 - H-60 (Black / Sea) Hawk

Few Western aerospace design and manufacturing firms can boast an aircraft so successful that it is flown by every branch of the US military, plus the Coast Guard and dozens of countries, with over 4,000 aircraft being built in dozens of configurations. No, it’s not the Lockheed C-130 Hercules or Bell UH-1 Huey. We’re talking the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter.
Joining us this episode to discuss the numerous H-60 variants (Blackhawk and Seahawk primarily, but also the Jayhawk and Pavehawk) is US Navy Commander Jeremiah Ragadio. “FRANK,” a career Seahawk pilot currently in training to assume a leadership position in a sea-going MH-60R squadron, offers a fascinating look at not only all the H-60 variants, but its armament and performance as well.
During the listener question segment we discuss land-based Navy squadrons, S-3 radio limitations, and aircraft carrier landing F/A-18E/F weight limits and ordnance considerations.
Read the latest ‘Musing’ on our website:
www.fighterpil...
View our inaugural ‘Deep Dive’ video:
• Video
Bumper announcements by Jim Hendershot; bumper music by Jaime Lopez. Episode artwork by Janek Krause.

[@matthewmcgee]

+1 to your advice to potential pilots worried about what aircraft they might be assigned. Every aircraft and warfare community has positive aspects to enjoy. Flying anything is a blast!

[@Diesel0012002]

I used to drive past a Sikorsky plant in Big Flats, NY(no longer there). I was told they would refit our older “60’s” for other countries. I noticed Hawks with Abu Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Australian markings on them. I occasionally visit with the Lockheed Martin plant where they install avionics and sensors for the Romeo. They’re working on the new VH-? That will replace the Marine One helos. Not fast movers but really cool stuff. Absolutely have a new appreciation for what the rotor aircraft do for Naval operations. Thanks for the new insight and a more enjoyable commute to work. Great work, gentlemen.

[@Rex-ii2yz]

We use to fly the Volcano mine laying system off of the hawk in the Army long ago. But I have not see it in many years. It was a huge pain to mount, and dismount the system.

[@samuelWx]

"Legacy Helicopters"= Sikorsky SH-3H Seakings. Got over 1000 hrs as crew chief/rescue swimmer. HS-7 Dusty Dogs, USS John F. Kennedy 1983-84.

[@matthewmcgee]

Another correction (25:42), the SH-60F DID have a window on the port side of the cabin, right next to the sensor operator's station (just like the SH-60B and MH-60R). The window didn't "open", but could be jettisoned in an emergency to escape the cabin. The HH-60H (and USCG HH-60J) have double windows on the port side, which open and close.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

FRANK sent me a short audio clip with a few corrections to play on the next episode. I can speak from experience that strange things happen when a live mic is in front of you.

[@matthewmcgee]

Yay LAMPS! :) SH-60Bs were introduced a bit before "the 2000s". They were to the fleet by the mid 1980's.

[@piloto_loco]

love this, thank you so much.

[@PrimarchX]

I knew every variant you discussed. Of course the SH-60F had a dipping sonar (as does the MH-60R). There was a mention of 'not enough of us' but there's a surplus of air frames coming on line due to surplus from LCS cutbacks. Hopefully that means more capability elsewhere in the fleet.

[@Whiskey11Gaming]

Late to this party, don't know if the H60 variants ever had them, but the TOW/ITOW missiles served in the Navy with the Marine Corps. That is a Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided missiles which operated as you described, stringing a wire (pair actually) behind them for guidance. Ditched in favor of Hellfires for helicopters for flexibility. Still in use by land forces.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Good to know!

[@wmcdermott175]

Hey I love the podcast and I was wondering what the difference between the two types of fighter pilot helmets are. (i.e. the regular spherical one vs the one that has the large piece connecting the visor to the helmet)

[@falanglao01]

Though this wasn't the focus of the interview, don't forget China. They finally developed a viable copy out of their 24 civilian S-70s they got during the 1980s, pre-Tian An Men massacre. They call it Z-20 and it will come in many versions, including naval ASW.

[@hiimbrady]

Regarding your reference to the -60s as "airplanes," I spent a little time at Bagram and the Army special forces helo maintainer dudes often came over to our squadron to borrow stuff or shoot the... stuff and they aaaaaalways referred to their Chinooks as airplanes. Maybe it was an Army thing, maybe they were just in the Army so they didn't know if they were working on a helicopter or a Jack-O-Lantern. They seemed to know what they were doing and they were super cool dudes, so when they were like, "Can we borrow your nancart for one of our planes?" We said, "Sure. Just fill it up on the way back." And then our GSE guys busted their balls but it was really just a complex practical joke. GSE guys, right?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

So right. Normally I wouldn't care what I call something either but with this whole podcast thing I feel like suddenly accuracy matters, ya know?

[@hiimbrady]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Oh I'm totally with you and I really appreciate your focus on accuracy. But if the helo guys call them "planes" I think you can sit back and shrug one off once in a while lol. Love your podcast! Moar pleez!

[@hiimbrady]

Or just make fun of the Army guys. (For the record I was a Marine, if you hadn't guessed)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@hiimbrady True. Dude! Three / month is already a steady strain--any more and this would be a full time pursuit!

[@hiimbrady]

​@@FighterPilotPodcast Nah just pat them on the head. When are we getting a Prowler podcast?

[@ArkansasBassMan]

13:31 Technically the H-60 doesn't have jet engines but rather turbines. I hate to beat you up because I love the podcasts.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Dangit! Stumped by a technicality 😅

[@marcelopacheco2479]

Anapolís Brasílian Air Force base (ICAO: SBAN, in the city of Anapolis-GO) is similar to USA Andrews AFB, that is where fighters would take off from to cover our federal capital of Brasília. They have highly modernized F5s as the low end fighter and on the "highend" have been transitioning from Mirage 2000 to loaned original Grippen to brand new Grippen NGs. I'm just a Brazilian PPL that is a military airport junkie, so I could be a little off in some of the details I'm quoting.

[@lucasfeliphe7028]

A pity that the air force did not use the Gripen C/D or F-16 Block 50/52 as a replacement for the Mirage 2000 after its retirement in 2013.

[@michaelmulligan0]

Does the Seahawk have the same level of survivability as a Blackhawk?

[@AirspeedisLife]

what happened to the Deep Dive video link ?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Gone.

[@SpypilotSR-71]

Why did this get re-uploaded?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

We fixed a few audio glitches with the previous version.

[@gregoryandyuliakaplan7505]

Sunshine, it was An-225. Not An-224 :)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

A correction to our correction!

[@eriktruchinskas3747]

I wish they would redo this with mike durant, not knocking this man