HH-60W completes extreme weather testing
The USAF has completed extreme environment testing for the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter at the McKinley Climatic Lab on Eglin AFB, Florida.
Testing was concluded on 2 April after a month of exposing the aircraft to extreme temperatures of between 120 F to -60 F as well as torrential rainfall and winds of up to 45 mph.
Lt. Col. Ryan Coates, an 88th Test and Evaluation Sqd. Pilot said: ‘Operating the HH-60W in the extreme conditions was a truly unique experience as a pilot and a tester’.
He continued that: ‘Checking system performance under the stress of heat, cold, heavy wind and rain will give us real-world data regarding the helicopter’s capability to perform the resuce mission worldwide in various environments.’
Further evaluation of the HH-60W will now take place at Sikorsky’s testing facilities in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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