Wednesday, March 11, 2015

UH-60 Black Hawk crashed in Florida. 11 are missing?

It sounds like the remote region of Florida is difficult to traverse and the 11 aren't missing so much as in this area.

They might need an aquatic vehicle to land on the beach for a search and rescue effort

This is a graphic regarding the HH-60G. I didn't see such a graphic for the UH-60. The UH is the design for Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) program. It is a Black Hawk by it is equipped for this particular program of the military. It is used for most purposes for this program. It is used for troop transport, command and control, MedEvac, and reconnaissance. The age of the vehicles are about the same year of 1974. Was this a 40 year old helicopter?

I can't believe we are still using a 40 year old helicopter. That is a national shame. One of the problems that profoundly exists in the USA military is old equipment. Conventional warfare has been abandoned for the most part to explore high end techie equipment. This is the result of such priorities. A trillion dollar program with F35s are bragging rights but the conventional warfare backbone of any military efforts lags and for the most part has been abandoned. 

If this was a training mission for nighttime missions, the helicopter would be under more realistic conditions. If the function of the helicopter was newer than what the heck kind of live munitions were used? 

The helicopter was carrying it's maximum personnel load or 11 people.The UH-60 is the preferred helicopter to function on any terrain. 

I wish the Democrats would prioritize military spending on commercial warfare and replacing the tried and true equipment.

March 11, 2015
By Kim Hjelmgaard

Seven Marines and four aircrew (click here) are missing Wednesday after an Army helicopter crashed during a training exercise at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle.

The area where the crash happened Tuesday night was under a fog advisory. The extreme fog still present early Wednesday was affecting the search, Eglin public affairs specialist Sara Vidoni said.

Eglin spokesman Andy Bourland said the Marines are part of a Camp Lejeune-based special operations group and the aircrew are from a Hammond, La.-based National Guard unit. The names of those involved have not been released....