Friend or foe, they sweep the skies just slightly over battlefields. However, they also evacuate victims from natural disasters, conduct humanitarian missions and transport victims in medical emergencies. Leoni, who was awarded the Black Hawk design patent, was there from the first in the intense competition to build a prototype helicopter to the US Army's exacting specifications for a variety of potential uses. He closely describes the appalling amount of work necessary to solve technical problems and meet specs, the truly strange experiences of the design team in flight tests, and the crash of one of the prototypes (with a full complement of personnel aboard) that could have wiped out the project but instead strengthened the design team's competitive position. Sure to appeal to enthusiasts, this gives a wide range of technical data, including line art used in the design process, and well-chosen photographs. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"This story tells, in clear detail, how Sikorsky Aircraft developed, tested, modified, and produced one of the most successful helicopters in the world. Written by the man considered to be the "father" of the Black Hawk, Ray Leoni explains how Sikorsky used innovative designs with the right advanced technologies to meet the Army's stringent specifications for aircraft performance, survivability and reliability. With its creative Black Hawk design, Sikorsky won an uphill, highly-contested battle for one of the world's largest helicopter programs which reestablished the company as a leader in the world community of helicopter producers. Black Hawk variants have been put in service by every branch of the US Military and by over 24 countries around the world accumulating over 5 million flight hours. Through its combat service in the campaigns of Granada, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq, the Black Hawk has demonstrated unprecedented mission versatility and survivability and prov

Leoni, the man considered to be the "father" of the Black Hawk, explains how Sikorsky Aircraft used innovative designs with the right advanced technologies to meet the Armys stringent specifications for aircraft performance, survivability, and reliability.