Blackhawk Helicopter Lands in Scone

THE first civilian Blackhawk helicopter to operate in Australia landed in Scone this afternoon and will be used during fire season.

Pilot, Fergus Frater, said Pay’s Air Service had brought the Blackhawk to Australia because it was at the forefront for fighting fires.

The pilots of the Blackhawk: Brandon Hahaj, Fergus Frater, Brian Jorgenson and Brady Schaures.

“It can get more water to the fire quicker than the Bell,” said Mr Frater.

“The Blackhawk coming down here did 150 knots and can carry 3,400 litres of water, compared to the Bell which does about 100 knots and carries 1,600 litres of water,” he said.

The helicopter which was decommissioned by the United States military is owned by American company Timberline and will be part of the Pay’s Air Service fleet.

The Blackhawk, including its three American pilots, will be based in Scone to attend fires throughout New South Wales and Victoria.

Brian Jorgenson, pilot and vice-president of Timberline said the Blackhawk was increasingly being used in the United States for firefighting and they were excited to spend some time in Australia during the fire season.

“It’s fast and we have two hours of fuel so we can up to about 300 miles; so we can get more water to the fire faster,” said Mr Jorgenson.

“Last summer was the first summer we started to see a lot of them, the US military are selling their surplus aircraft and when we picked it up it was still army green and we gave it a new paint job,” he said.

“There are three companies in the States operating there now and I’m sure there will be more as time goes by,” he said.

“When you buy them green they are anywhere from $500,000 to a million and then you put another million to million and a half into them to get them ready to work,” Brian Jorgenson said.

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Ross Pay of Pays Air Service was keen to use a Blackhawk during the Australian fire season and was put in touch with Timberline.

“We were at a helicopter show in Lewisville Kentucky and through Heliops Magazine we heard Ross was looking to use a Blackhawk,” said Mr Jorgenson

“I came over here in April and we talked about how it might work,” he said.

“We have brought out the “B” team,” he laughed.

The pilots who have travelled from the United States to operate the machine are Brian Jorgenson, Brandon Hahaj and Brady Schaures.

Related story: Blackhawk Deployed.