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Special thanks to Jason Tu for providing information on this page.
S-70 is Sikorsky designation for the H-60 Blackhawk series.
The ROCAF received ten S-70C-1A and four S-70C-1 Bluehawk helicopters in June 1986.
According to Sikorsky documents, S-70C-1A represents ROCAF utility helicopters,
although they were used to replace the aging Bell HH-1H Seach-And-Rescue (SAR) helicopter, which entered service in 1970.
On the other hand, the four "plain" S-70C-1 were used for adminstrative transport purposes.
which had luxury chairs installed in the cabin and
access steps fitted to both sides of the fuselage, below the main cabin door.
These helicopters are all powered by the commercial General Electric CT7-2D engines,
instead of the military T700.
Coincidentally, the People's Republic of China took delivery of 24 S-70C-2 with nose-mounted
weather radar at about the same time.
ROCAF S-70C-1A can be fitted with the unique Sikorsky Stores Support System (SSSS),
capable of carrying four external fuel tanks, to expand their range.
The SSSS is different from the standard External Stores Support System (ESSS) in that the SSSS pylon is further downswept
and the fuel tanks used are also distinct.
In order to conduct SAR missions, a rescue hoist/winch is installed above the main cabin door of S-70C-1A.
Other external features that distinguish the -1A from the -1 include:
Electronic Location Finder (ELF) blade antennas under the nose,
TACAN antenna and HF wire antenna on the upper and lower port side of the tailcone, respectively,
and UHF/VHF/FM/TACAN antenna below the tailcone.
In the wake of the loss of an S-70C-1, which crashed into mountains in bad weather
while serving as the lead for a presidential flight mission,
the ROCAF ordered four S-70C-6 "Super Bluehawk" to boost its all-weather SAR capability.
The upgrades include FLIR, weather radar, and search light in the nose
high-power loudhailers, and provisions for flare/chaff dispensers.
In addition, S-70C-6 is powered by two T700-GE-701 turbine engines,
replacing the CT7-2D on S-70C-1/1A.
S-70C-6 also add the Hover InfraRed Suppression System
(HIRSS) to reduce infrared singnature.
They were handed over to the ROCAF at Sikorsky's factory on April 7, 1998.
Although S-70C-6 were ordered to enhance ROCAF's all-weather SAR capability,
two of them (7015 and 7016) were subsequently converted by Air Asia in Tainan into
administrative transport helicopter for transporting government officials,
with leather seats and shades installed in the main cabin.
The Ministry of National Defense claimed that the two helicopters could be easily
reconfigured for SAR missions by removing non-SAR equipment.
However, it is understood that reconfiguration would take hours to complete.
Service History
All S-70C, including those used for administrative transport purposes,
are operated by the Air Rescue Group based at Chiayi AB.
They are dispersed to several other air bases throughout Taiwan.
On May 7, 2003, the American Helicopter Society presented its Frederick L. Feinberg Award
to the crews of S-70C that drew 36 beleaguered fishermen to safety and helped many
more after a dormitory barge erupted in flames on July 9, 2002.
Four ROCAF S-70C scrambled to the hapless hulk, at times recovering two rescuees
on a single hoist cable in wind-swept seas.
They also dropped 30 flotation devices in the water to assist the fishermen.
A total of 133 mainland Chinese fishermen were saved from the air and sea.
The barracks boat's cook was missing and the only reported fatality.
During the first quarter of 2004, S-70C operated by both the Air Force and Navy
surpassed the 100,000 flight hour milestone.
Fleet Images
| S-70C-1 |
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| S-70C-1A in Original Paint Scheme |
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| S-70C-1A |
| S-70C-6 |
Fleet Information
| Tail No. |
Constr. No. |
Remark |
| 7001 |
70954 |
S-70C-1 |
| 7002 |
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S-70C-1; w/o 11/05/95 |
| 7003 |
70965 |
S-70C-1 |
| 7004 |
70966 |
S-70C-1 |
| 7005 |
70910 |
S-70C-1A |
| 7006 |
70918 |
S-70C-1A |
| 7007 |
70927 |
S-70C-1A |
| 7008 |
70928 |
S-70C-1A |
| 7009 |
70929 |
S-70C-1A |
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| Tail No. |
Constr. No. |
Remark |
| 7010 |
70946 |
S-70C-1A |
| 7011 |
70950 |
S-70C-1A |
| 7012 |
70951 |
S-70C-1A |
| 7013 |
70957 |
S-70C-1A |
| 7014 |
70958 |
S-70C-1A |
| 7015 |
702399 |
S-70C-6 |
| 7016 |
702405 |
S-70C-6 |
| 7017 |
702417 |
S-70C-6 |
| 7018 |
702423 |
S-70C-6 |
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Details
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Front views of S-70C-6 (Left) and S-70C-1A (Right) clearly show
the differences between the standard ESSS pylons and the unique SSSS pylons.
The black E-shape handrails on both sides of S-70C-1A house the VHF-FM homing antennas
while those on S-70C-6 are not used.
S-70C-6 also lack the rearview mirrors found on S-70C-1A.
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Left:
The ESSS on S-70C-6 can carry two 870-liter (230-gallon) fuel tanks on the outboard pylons
and two 1703-liter (450-gallon) tanks inboard.
Right:
The SSSS on S-70C-1A can also carry four fuel tanks although the tanks are different
from those for the ESSS.
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Left:
The all-weather S-70C-6 features a weather radar, AN/AAQ-20 FLIR, and Nightsun searchlight.
Note the makeshift cover for the searchlight.
Also noticeable is the upper TACAN antenna.
Right:
Under the nose of S-70C-1A are two ELF blade antennas (they are not found on S-70C-1).
The two disks behind ELF antennas are the radar altimeter antennas.
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Left:
To improve survivability, S-70C-6 incorporates the Hover InfraRed Suppression System
(HIRSS) which reduces the IR signature by suppressing hot exhaust gases.
Right:
S-70C-1A's engine exhaust lacks the HIRSS.
The small port behind the engine exhaust is the exhaust port of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).
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Left:
This digitally stitched photo shows the interior of S-70C-1A's cabin.
Right:
Both S-70C-1A's and -6's cabins can be reconfigured to transport VIPs
(-6 is shown). (Photo by Jason Tu)
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Interior of S-70C-6's cabin (digitally stitched photo).
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Left:
Both S-70C-1A and -6 are equipped with a hydraulically powered rescue hoist/winch.
Right:
S-70C-6's crewmemeber has access to a rescue hoist/cargo hook pendant (with the spiral cord)
and a hover grip (on the top) that provides limited flight control during a rescue mission.
(Photo by Jason Tu)
Far right:
S-70-1A has only the rescue hoist/cargo hook pendant but no hover grip.
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The port side of S-70C-1A's tailcone is fitted with the HF wire antenna and
the top TACAN antenna (on top of the yellow band).
The UHF/VHF/FM/TACAN antenna (in black) is right below the national emblem.
The tail landing gear swivels to improve maneuverability of aircraft when on the ground.
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Left:
On S-70C-6, high-power, high-clarity loudhailers are installed on both sides of
the tailcone to guide people to refuge during emergencies.
The -6 is fitted with an HF rack antenna in place of the wire antenna found on the -1A.
The UHF/VHF/TACAN antenna is just visible directly below the chaff dispenser installation point.
Right: All ROCAF's S-70C feature the manual folding tail pylon.
The whole tail pylon can be unlocked and hinges to fold flat against the port side of the tailcone.
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Left:
S-70C has a large, automatically controllable stabilator, used for low-speed
maneuvers and for improving control during nap-of-the-earth flying.
A VHF/FM antenna has been designed into the fin leading edge and the overhead cabin communication
antenna is located on the trailing edge.
A cambered fin is fitted to give directionally stability in relation to the anti-torque effect of the tail rotor.
Right:
The tail rotor is a semi-rigid crossbeam rotor of composite construction with graphite epoxy spars.
It is canted upwards 20 degrees, giving an extra vertical lift component.
The bulged fairing houses the tail rotor gearbox.
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