List of S-70 Firehawks
Continue readingA new FireHawk destined for Northern California
We are catching up on some photos recently received.
Enjoy.
CAL FIRE Helicopter 101 after it went through flight tests at United Rotorcraft in Colorado. Its home base will be Howard Forest in Mendocino County, California. Photo by James Wattenburger, June 30, 2021.(We removed a photo of a DC-10 after receiving additional information from the person who sent it to us, saying it was taken by someone else.)
Ventura County FireHawk tests new tanks at 69Bravo water facility
Ventura County FireHawk testing new tanks at 69Bravo, June 9, 2021. Photo from 69Bravo camera.Earlier this month the four old 6,000 gallon vinyl/rubber pumpkins at the 69Bravo helicopter water source in the Southern California Santa Monica Mountains were replaced with new 8,000 gallon metal tanks.
On June 9 the web camera at the facility captured one of Ventura County Fire Department’s “new” FireHawk helicopters testing the reconfigured tank system.
Ventura County has two helicopters that are former military HH-60L Blackhawks originally configured by United Rotorcraft as dedicated MEDEVAC helicopters with medical equipment and patient litter systems, some of which was repurposed in the new FireHawk configuration. The helicopters recently received new navigation and communication systems, cabin interiors, and a 1,000 gallon external fixed water tank with a retractable snorkel system. The landing gear was replaced with higher gear to allow clearance for the installation of the belly tank.
Called 69Bravo Helistop, the facility on one of the highest peaks in the Topanga area has been an excellent source for virtually unlimited water for helicopters fighting wildfires in the area. It has four dip or snorkel tanks which enable helicopters with external buckets or fixed tanks to quickly refill with water. The buckets are lowered into the tanks, while helicopters with “snorkels” lower a hose with a pump into the water.
There are also two landing pads where helicopters that must land to refill can obtain water from fire hoses connected to the tanks by on-scene firefighters. Or, pilots can land and take a break if needed. The system keeps the tanks full automatically by using water from an on-site well.
The 69Bravo site was built by the very generous land owner and has been used with his permission. Several years ago Los Angeles County arranged to purchase the 34-acre property at a price reportedly less than half the market value, making payments over a seven-year period ending in 2024.
Ventura County FireHawk dropping water while testing new tanks at 69Bravo, June 9, 2021. Photo from 69Bravo camera.Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Simon.
Ventura County Copter 5 returns to SoCal after FireHawk conversion
Ventura County Copter 5 returns home to Southern California after being converted to a FireHawk. Photo by Ventura County Stringer May 9, 2021.From Ventura County Stringer:
“Ventura County Fire (VC Air Unit) Copter 5 (N60VC) arrived at Camarillo Airport late Sunday Morning. Copter 5 started its trip from United Rotorcraft in Colorado early Saturday Morning.
“Copter 5 was formally a Military Blackhawk that has been converted into a Firehawk. The Firehawk is expected to be put into service soon. Additionally, Copter 4, which is another Firehawk that was a military Blackhawk, is anticipated to arrive in the county soon.”
More FireHawks nearing completion in Colorado
For Ventura County and CAL FIRE
Continue readingOne of Ventura County’s recently converted FireHawks spotted in Colorado
The Southern California county purchased three former military HH-60L Blackhawks
Continue readingUpdate on CAL FIRE’s firefighting aircraft program
CAL FIRE is nearing completion on converting another OV-10 Bronco
Continue readingMore rotor wing help arrives in California
Flight Path Firehawk helicoptersTwo new CAL FIRE Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopters flew from the Denver area to Sacramento Wednesday and Thursday of last week. The aircraft were converted for wildland firefighting by United Rotorcraft in Englewood, Colorado.
The two helicopters left Centennial Airport southeast of Denver March 10 at about 10:40 a.m. MST and arrived at Sacramento McClellan Airport at 4:08 p.m. PST on March 11. On the seven-leg trip they stopped at Alamosa, CO; Cortez, CO; Page, AZ (where they stayed overnight); Bullhead City, AZ;, Tehachapi, CA; and Columbia, CA.
According to Flight Aware the helicopters flew at 130 to 150 mph.
The two helicopters were H-301 (N486DF) which will be based at Hemet, and H-104 (N487DF) destined for Boggs Mountain. It is likely to be weeks or months before they finish their final inspections and outfitting and arrive at their new homes.
CAL FIRE helicopter 301. Photo via Josh Bischof.Horsepower for the 2021 Fire season, in transit from Colorado yesterday, Hemet Ryan’s (Riverside Co.) and Boggs Mountain (NorCal) new S70i Firehawks stopped at Columbia Air Attack Base for fuel enroute to Sacramento. pic.twitter.com/ofn7J8MbFw
— SoCal Air Operations (@SocalAirOps) March 13, 2021
Colorado legislature passes bills to beef up fire aviation, but Governor could make changes or veto
The legislation calls for an increase in the availability of air tankers and leased helicopters, and authorize the purchase of a Sikorsky S-70 Firehawk helicopter
Continue readingLACoFD has two new Firehawks
Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopters 21 and 22 arrive at Barton Heliport in Pacoima, California. Photo by @ShorealoneFilms via @MichaelDubron.With their arrival today at the Barton Heliport in Pacoima, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has two new Firehawk helicopters fully equipped and ready to go. Both of the ships, Helicopters 21 and 22, were converted by Colorado company United Rotorcraft into firefighting machines, with extended landing gear, 1,000 gallon firefighting tanks, and retractable snorkel systems. H-21 was in California last winter, went back to Colorado to finish the conversion, then came back with it’s sister ship, H-22, today August 4.
Now the LACoFD has 10 helicopters, 5 Firehawks and five Bell 412 ships.
The Department announced in July of last year that they were going to buy two more Firehawks.
Last year we wrote about 14 things to know about Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations.
Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Sikorsky S70I Firehawk, Helicopter 21, being tested Nov. 16, 2019 in Colorado. Photo by Erick Lama for United Rotorcraft.
One of Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Firehawks, Helicopter 21, arriving at HAI 2020 in Anaheim, CA January 24, 2020.
At HAI Anaheim, January 28, 2020, Sikorsky honored three fire departments whose organizations are operating Firehawks; San Diego Fire Rescue, Los Angeles County, and CAL FIRE.
At HAI Anaheim, January 28, 2020, Sikorsky honored three fire departments whose organizations are operating Firehawks; San Diego Fire Rescue, Los Angeles County, and CAL FIRE. LACoFD’s new H-21 is in the background.