Private Blackhawks

[Ztex]

I saw this recently....

So...should we call these "warbirds" ?

I'm thinking, sure, why not?

[airnutz]

A textbook case of a former warbird becoming a Warbird!

[wendovertom]

I'm waiting for someone to do that with a CH-53 - someone with DEEEEEP pockets!

Tom P.

[CAPFlyer]

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... hting-duty

http://www.helis.com/database/cn/1771/

http://www.helis.com/database/cn/1772/

[wendovertom]

looking into supporting a on mil-spec Sea Stallion for an air show, I was told that 'traveling' they consume about 3000 lbs of fuel an hour. . . .

Tom P.

[JohnB]

For the CH-53s, It would be interesting to see what spares (blades, etc) go for...considering they have virtually no civil use.

In other words, did the DoD sell parts cheap and some dealer look to make a killing reselling them.

[Scott Rose]

I saw this recently....

So...should we call these "warbirds" ?

I'm thinking, sure, why not?

Just started tracking them this year, over 100 on the FAA registry!

[Jerry O'Neill]

My question is:
If it a Black Hawk was ordered by, and delivered directly to, a civilian entity, was it ever a "warbird", or does the linage of it's design make it a "warbird"? An example would be the Fire Hawks used in California. Ordered special for fire duties right from the factory. Are they "warbirds"?
Jerry

[Sasquatch]

They do battle (fires).

I vote yes.

-Tom

[mexchiwa]

I also vote yes - anyone going to say a Grumman G-58 Bearcat isn't a warbird?

[Chris Brame]

Keep an eye on the GSA auction page - quite a few have sold through there the last couple years... maybe save the photos for the Registry?

[Bearcat SA]

For interest there is a civilian Blackhawk in South Africa... ex N986AJ now ZT-RGA

[CAPFlyer]

My question is:
If it a Black Hawk was ordered by, and delivered directly to, a civilian entity, was it ever a "warbird", or does the linage of it's design make it a "warbird"? An example would be the Fire Hawks used in California. Ordered special for fire duties right from the factory. Are they "warbirds"?
Jerry

I would say yes because the S-70 was never marketed to the civilian market.

Also, the G-58 Bearcat is kinda a grey area and not really a good example to use as for whether it's a warbird or not because the G-58s built were a one-off for a "War Hero" who flew the F8F in the service, and then the demo bird for Grumman itself, it was never intended as a "civilian variant" or marketed to civilian customers.

The better example of a "either/or" would be the L100 Hercules since that version has substantial differences from the military aircraft (the L382) and it was specifically marketed to the civilian market as a civilian aircraft.

[JohnB]

The S-70 is a Blackhawk sold to foreign governments...and lack some military systems.
I have a Sikorsky factory desk model and the stand clearly calls it a S-70.
I don't know the exact reason why the change...after all foreign UH-1s were sold as UH-1s...but it could be simply that since those airframes weren't ordered by the DoD they didn't get a military designation...or also it makes exporting easier and less restrictive since they're not a "weapon". Exporting a "weapon" means more paperwork (hence money) and more governmental oversight.

[Ztex]

Spotted this one in Santa Fe, NM last summer.
It's not a factory direct firefighter, just a plain old warbird

A1175 N17FH UH-60A Ex 80-23469