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Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (UH-72) |
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7/25/2008:
The Lakota UH-72 is the US Military's newest light utility
helicopter. The helicopter entered service in 2006 for
homeland security and other non-combat missions.
The Lakota is the military version of the Eurocopter EC-145
commercial aircraft, designed to fly light general support
operations such as civil search and rescue, personnel
recovery, evacuation, counter-drug and limited civil command
and control operations for the Department of Homeland
Security. It carries up to 11 people. The Lakota is not
designed to operate in combat environments. Ultimately, the
Lakota will replace UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to be
transferred for operational missions, as well as the last of
the Vietnam-vintage UH-1 Huey helicopters that remain in the
military arsenal.
Pilots who have flown the twin-turbine aircraft report it is a
powerful aircraft that handles well in all weather conditions,
including storms that most aviators would avoid. The Lakota
also burns significantly less fuel than the Black Hawk or
other similar aircraft. |
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