Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk with ESSS and Skis

The UH-60 Black Hawk is a legendary multi-role helicopter that became the backbone of US Army aviation as well as that of many armed forces worldwide. The prototype made its maiden flight on October 17, 1974, and the aircraft officially entered service with the 101st Airborne Division in 1979.
The Black Hawk saw its first combat action in Grenada in 1983; it demonstrated exceptional survivability by withstanding hits from projectiles up to 23 mm in caliber and remaining airworthy even after sustaining significant damage.
For missions in adverse environmental conditions and extended-range operations, the UH-60 Black Hawk can be equipped with the External Stores Support System (ESSS) and skid landing gear. The ESSS consists of special fuselage-mounted pylons that allow for the carriage of external fuel tanks with capacities of 230 or 450 gallons. In this configuration, the helicopter's ferry range increases to 2,132 kilometers. However, this equipment demands heightened attention and piloting skill during flight operations.
The skid landing gear is made of fiberglass and was designed to facilitate landings in deep snow or on soft, marshy tundra terrain. At the same time, the wheels protrude through openings in the skids, enabling taxiing on paved runways.
The use of skids entails certain limitations, as the maximum flight speed is reduced and landings are only possible on relatively level surfaces. Furthermore, they somewhat restrict access to the cabin and complicate loading and unloading. The skid landing gear configuration is typical for certain US National Guard units.

Plastic model kit

• Includes ESSS pylons, auxiliary fuel tanks, and skids
• Modified landing gear without wire cutters

1:48 scale

unbuilt / unpainted
 

• Paint and glue not included