what would be a good sling load for the BBI Blackhawk?

[aferguson]

I want to have my BBI Blackhawk carrying a sling load. What, of all the stuff that is currently available, would be good for this?

I've seen lots of pictures of Blackhawks slinging Humvees (although i dont see the point really...why not just drive the Humvee to the location rather than tie up an asset like a helicopter to get it there maybe an hour faster?). A sling load of a Humvee is kinda boring though.

Ideally, i'd like to sling an artillery piece but all i've got is an M101 and i think they were retired long ago, no? Certainly i don't imagine any currently in Afghanistan or Iraq. I know of no M102 or M119 avialable in 1/18 (if i'm wrong please illuminate me!).

Anything else that would be good and interesting for a sling load?

Oh, and what crewmen would be in the back of the blackhawk and what would they be doing? I believe there would be at least a crew chief monitoring the load, but how? Does he just look outside the door?

And oh again, would the Blackhawk be armed in any way?


Any and all input is appreciated and will earn you bonus points.

[kevrut]

I was thinking the same thing about my Huey. What's the max payload for the BlackHawk and Hueys?

[Ta-152]

Hmmm. Maybe a bunch of crates and such? Chap Mei did a few, or you could probably make something similar. Grab some netting from the craft section at Wal-Mart (where they keep the seashells and glas vases) and put them in it and it might look ok.

[steelbonnet]

I was under the impression Blackhawks had Miniguns as standard for defense capabilities?
As for crew I believe it`s 3-4. 2 Pilots,Load Chief & tech? Also means whilst the Load chief is busy,there IS someone manning one of the 3 weapon stations.

I think this is a Logical thing though I`m partly guesstimating too.

As for a sling Load. You could use the HAWK missile system that GI JOE did.
Maybe you could make a Pallet & stack supplies on it then sling that load?

As for the older retired Art pieces Aferg. You could have it there NOT US issued though used by a friendly force still & the US are helping re-position the art piece (gets around the outdated piece till you locate a Modern piece).

Hope those influx`s of ideas help mate

Ja
Steel Bonnet

[Ta-152]

Yeah, i was thinking that a minigun would be present. The only one that comes to mind is a G.I. Joe one:

http://www.yojoe.com/action/03/roadblock9.shtml

Actually, i have one coming in the mail, and was thinking of rigging it to the Huey Hog.

[steelbonnet]

Ta-152,
The Minigun with Roadblock is a good choice though there is also the minigun that comes with the PTE Littlebirds too (2 of them on each littlebird). You`d need to make hand grips though.

Ja
Steel Bonnet

[Ta-152]

I didn't even think of the Little Bird.

Roadblock's is easier to find for me, and i think that the minigun is going to come with some Clone Trooper as well.

[Timbo]

The crew would depend on the mission. A Pilot in command and a co-pilot are required to fly the aircraft with usually one crewchief but it would not be unusual for there to be two crew in the rear. The gun mounts in the crew doors are designed to fit M-60 machine guns and unless you are looking at a special ops bird that's probably all you would see. The sling load is primarily the responsibility of the air assault guys that hook it up on the ground. Once the load is airborne it is difficult to see without laying down in the door and looking under the aircraft. As for what would be carried, fuel blisters, generators, heavy weapons, vehicles, etc...

[digger]

Good stuff Timbo.
The PTE MGs are great, and you get an ammo drum with ammo.
And when there is no bridge/road the lift is needed for the humvee.

[aferguson]

Great info and ideas so far gang...keep it comin'. What other 'heavy weapons' besides artillery would be carried?

SB: what was the name of the GI Joe Hawk missile system? Are Hawks used in Iraq or Afghanistan?

[tderespino]

Sling this!!!!

http://www.chinook-helicopter.com/sling ... Master.jpg

[tderespino]

more sling things

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... 60_009.jpg

[steelbonnet]

Timbo,
Thank`s mate always better to have actual intel on this

So the Blackhawk doesn`t have a hole in the deck to peek through on the load then say like a Chinook (Woka Woka)? Didn`t know that.

Nice links BTW tomd

Ja
Steel Bonnet

[aferguson]

or should i do a bunch of troops rappeling instead?

[steelbonnet]

HAHAHAHA yea there is that too mate
Green Bootlaces would be perfect for the rappling rope too

Ja
Steel Bonnet

[flpickupman]

What might be easier than trying to come up with the rappeling harnesses and such is doing a Fast Rope setup.



Or a SPIE (pronounced spy) Rig setup.



Depends on how many guys you want to use.

Sorry, it just occured to me that doing a SPIE Rig would actually be more work than a rappeling rig. lol For the easiest display of deploying troops, use the Fast Rope.

[USCGSARdog]

The cargo hook on the H-60 does fold up into a recess in the bottom of the fuselage. There is also a door in the cabin floor above the hook, letting the crew view the payload below. The resulting hole in the floor of the helo is known by flight crews as the "hellhole".

The cargo hook capacity is 9000 lb.

How about hanging a SEAL RIB or other small attack craft from the bottom of your 'Hawk?

-Rob

[Folkwulfe]

Here's a decent pic of the actual hook http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... en%26lr%3D
...and a quote from the USMC Operations Manuel on the Blackhawk...
UH-60 Blackhawk. The UH-60 Blackhawk can carry up to 14 combat-equipped troops internally or up to 8,000 pounds externally on the fixed-cargo hook. Although the crew chief can observe the load through a hatch and direct the pilot over the intercomm, a ground guide helps the pilot position the aircraft over the load. A typical external ammunition load for the UH-60 would be 200 to 220 rounds for the heavy mortar, 700 to 800 rounds for the medium mortar, or 1,500 rounds for the light mortar.

[aferguson]

if i have my Blackhawk slinging an M119 howitzer do i need to have any door guns on the Blackhawk? I hope not because it will be a pain in the b**t to make them but i read that it would be slinging the howitzer in an air assault role, which implies to me the Blackhawk would have door guns. Please advise.

Also, are M119's in Iraq army green, sand or is either colour ok?