Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Join the community of UPR donors who make this station possible. YOUR membership donation has the power to make a big difference! GIVE NOW

Blackhawk Helicopters Touchdown at USU

DESERET NEWS

Two military helicopters drew quite a crowd to the Utah State University HPER field on Thursday.

For an hour, The Utah National Guard and the Utah State Army ROTC program gave the public a chance to get inside the cockpit of the UH-60s or black hawk helicopters.

But the helicopters weren’t just for show. At one pm this afternoon the ROTC cadets went through training with the Utah National Guard to familiarize themselves with the aircraft.

Major Matthew Badell was a helicopter pilot during his tour in Afghanistan. He also oversees the cadets in the Utah State ROTC program. Badell says it’s quite an opportunity for his cadets to be training on such an expensive piece of equipment. Each rotor blade of the UH-60 costs $100,000 and the estimated value of the Blackhawk is $13 million.

But unlike other helicopters, the Blackhawks have numerous capabilities.  For example, says third year pilot Lt. Barrington, the "sling-back" feature. That means additional cargo can be carried underneath the helicopter’s fusel lodge.

There are about 100 cadets currently in the Utah State ROTC and Major Badell says this year, 18 of the cadets will be receiving Lt. commissions. Badell says that’s more than any other ROTC program in the state.

Mackinzie Hamilton started her career in 2009 as a reporter for 610 AM KVNU and staff writer for Cache Valley Daily.com before joining UPR in 2011. A freshman at Utah State University, she is majoring in Journalism and communications with a minor in vocal performance.