UH-60 Black Hawk Developments

[Air Superior]

as every time somebody wants to add a sensor they just stick it someplace on the outside.

Where else are they supposed to put it?

 

[Kiltonge]

Where else are they supposed to put it?

Imagine this monstrosity replaced with a single aerodynamic nose fairing with only the sensor heads visible, flush-mounted to the surface



But it's quicker and easier to just rivet them onto one of the few remaining skin panels, since the R&D budget doesn't have to account for increased fuel burn, reduced range and increased signatures. That's an ops budget problem.

 

[1635yankee]

Where else are they supposed to put it?

Perhaps pay some attention to aerodynamics?

 

[yasotay]

Well I guess drag is not as exponential on helicopters as it is on airplanes.

(My meager attempt at aeronautical humor for this year)

 

[Colonial-Marine]

I've got to agree on this matter, for the amount of effort that has gone into developing these specialized variants something like an extended nose fairing would make a lot of sense. Not much that can be done about some features like the refueling probe though.

Sometimes I've also got to wonder if they're trying to jam too much into the H-60 airframe.

 

[yasotay]

I've got to agree on this matter, for the amount of effort that has gone into developing these specialized variants something like an extended nose fairing would make a lot of sense. Not much that can be done about some features like the refueling probe though.

Sometimes I've also got to wonder if they're trying to jam too much into the H-60 airframe.

Much would depend on how extended the nose fairing becomes. Helicopters are somewhat sensitive to center of gravity. Relatively minor adjustments might be able to be dealt with through Control Law adjustments, although this might induce more frequent maintenance actions. Larger fairings could result in significant chages. You could end up like the OH-58D that had to have 50lbs(?) lead weight in the tail cone to mitigate all of the systems forward of teh CG. That's 50 lbs less fuel or ammo.

 

[Scott Kenny]

I've got to agree on this matter, for the amount of effort that has gone into developing these specialized variants something like an extended nose fairing would make a lot of sense. Not much that can be done about some features like the refueling probe though.

Sometimes I've also got to wonder if they're trying to jam too much into the H-60 airframe.

That's the actual problem.

USAF went from HH3s to HH60s. (HH53/MH53s were replaced by CV-22s)

Admittedly, an HH3 is about the same horsepower as an HH60, but was a much bigger fuselage (8-12 pax in an HH60, 28 pax in an HH3).