Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
VH60-A Blackhawk (VIP)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 26, 2021
1. VH60-A Blackhawk (VIP) Marker
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VH60-A Blackhawk (VIP). . Entering active service in 1979, the UH-60 has become the premier transport helicopter of the US Army. First developed in the late 1960s after Sikorsky Aircraft beat Boeing for the Army's Utility Tactical Transport (UTTAS) competition, the 4 bladed twin engine Blackhawk was seen as a more than adequate upgrade to replace the venerable and combat proven UH-1 Iroquois (Huey).
Deployed for the first time to support Operation Urgent Fury on the Caribbean Island nation of Grenada, the Blackhawks of Task Force 160, 18th Aviation Company and 1st of the 82nd Combat Aviation Battalion ferried troops and supplies during the 2 month invasion.
The Blackhawk has served in every major U.S. involved conflict from Panama to OIF/OEF. With ever increasing upgrades, the UH-60 is slated to be the US Army's utility helicopter well in to the 2020s.
VH-60 (VIP Variant) tail no. 80-23460 started its life as a standard UH-60A, arriving at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in November of 1981. During the first 12 years it served in various units within the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade to include a deployment with 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm in 1990. After its return from combat, the aircraft spent a few more years at Fort Campbell before being selected for modification and sent to the Bluegrass Army Depot, Kentucky where it spent 2 years being modified into the aircraft you see before you. This aircraft spent the next 19 years flying dignitaries, heads of state, and other important personnel around Washington D.C. with the 12th Aviation Battalion. Its last flight was from Fort Belvoir to Fort Eustis on 12 March 2015 to be added to the collection here at the Transportation Museum, this aircraft ended a 30 year tour of duty in service to our nation with over 5,000 flight hours.
Entering active service in 1979, the UH-60 has become the premier transport helicopter of the US Army. First developed in the late 1960s after Sikorsky Aircraft beat Boeing for the Army's Utility Tactical Transport (UTTAS) competition, the 4 bladed twin engine Blackhawk was seen as a more than adequate upgrade to replace the venerable and combat proven UH-1 Iroquois (Huey).
Deployed for the first time to support Operation Urgent Fury on the Caribbean Island nation of Grenada, the Blackhawks of Task Force 160, 18th Aviation Company and 1st of the 82nd Combat Aviation Battalion ferried troops and supplies during the 2 month invasion.
The Blackhawk has served in every major U.S. involved conflict from Panama to OIF/OEF. With ever increasing upgrades, the UH-60 is slated to be the US Army's utility helicopter well in to the 2020s.
VH-60 (VIP Variant) tail no. 80-23460 started its life as a standard UH-60A, arriving at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in November of 1981. During the first 12 years it served in various units within the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade to include a deployment with 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm in 1990. After its return from combat, the aircraft spent a few more years at Fort Campbell before being selected for modification and sent to the Bluegrass Army
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Depot, Kentucky where it spent 2 years being modified into the aircraft you see before you. This aircraft spent the next 19 years flying dignitaries, heads of state, and other important personnel around Washington D.C. with the 12th Aviation Battalion. Its last flight was from Fort Belvoir to Fort Eustis on 12 March 2015 to be added to the collection here at the Transportation Museum, this aircraft ended a 30 year tour of duty in service to our nation with over 5,000 flight hours.
Location. 37° 9.837′ N, 76° 34.575′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in Fort Eustis. Marker can be reached from Washington Boulevard just north of Jefferson Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 Washington Blvd, Fort Eustis VA 23604, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 378 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
