UH-60 Black Hawk – The Legendary American Cargo and Utility Helicopter That

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a twin-engine, medium-lift utility / transport helicopter developed for the U.S. Army. It entered service in 1979 and has become one of the most versatile helicopters worldwide.

It is used for things like:

Transporting troops into combat or other operational zones

Cargo transport (internal or sling-load externally)

Search & rescue, medevac missions

Command & control, disaster relief, and many other support roles.

Key Features & Design

FeatureDescriptionEnginesTwin General Electric T700 series turboshaft engines (varies by model: e.g. T700-GE-701C / -701D, etc.) Rotor system4-blade main rotor + 4-blade tail rotor; main rotor uses elastomeric bearings and is fully articulated; ballistically resilient materials for some components. Airframe / SurvivabilityFeatures include crash-worthy fuel tanks, armor protection around cockpit, self-sealing fuel, redundant systems in many variants, impact-absorbing landing gear and seats. Cabin / Cargo CapacityThe cabin is configurable: can carry ~11 fully equipped troops (in combat load) or more if lightly equipped. It can also carry external loads via sling (e.g. ~9,000 lb external for certain versions) or internal loads/supplies. Doors & AccessSliding doors on both sides for troop / cargo access. Cargo hook underneath for external loads.

Performance & Dimensions

Here are typical performance figures (for mid-/later models such as UH-60L / M) and physical dimensions:

ParameterValueMaximum speed~ 350-360 km/h (≈ 190-200 knots) in some versions Cruise speed~ 280-300 km/h depending on weight & variant Service ceilingaround 19,000 ft (≈ 5,800-6,000 m) Range (combat radius)Typically several hundred km (depends greatly on load & fuel configuration) Maximum take-off / gross weight~ 22,000 lb (≈ 10,000 kg) for many variants like UH-60L / M DimensionsLength (rotors included) ~ 19.76 m; rotor diameter ~ 16.36 m; height ~ 5.13 m

Variants / Upgrades

Over time, there have been multiple improved versions. Some important ones:

UH-60A – original model.

UH-60L – upgraded engines, better lift & performance.

UH-60M – modern avionics, digital flight systems, further engine improvements. More range, payload, reliability.

HH-60 / MH-60 / SH-60 etc. – special mission variants (search & rescue, naval, medevac).

If you like, I can put together a short summary (easy-read), or data for a specific variant of the Black Hawk (UH-60M or whatever) that suits what you meant by "cargo" helicopter.