History
Sans, the ESSS design was started from scratch.
Senior Pilot, when I retired, I left the UTTAS RFP and about 99% of my files for my successor, thus I cannot tell you the precise load time requirement that existed for the C-130, but it was a few hours. In all of the years that passed after the introduction of the first machines down to the 101st at Ft campbell, I can't recall any actual instance where the Army actually moved UH-60's via C-130. But there are Army units that do things quietly, so one can't be absolutely certain. On the bigger USAF aircraft ( or a Russian Antonov, which we have used to deliver machines to Turkey ), it is pretty much fold the main blades ( as shown in your photo ), take off one of the TR paddles, sometimes the stabilator, and you are in. For the C-130, we made a fairly simple hydraulic kit to deservice the struts ( the details of which I never dived into ).
Last edited by JohnDixson; 23rd Oct 2014 at 02:00.