CRESCENT, N.Y. — “Firehawk,” a new firefighting helicopter for the New York Army National Guard, was tested Tuesday near Albany.
A modified Blackhawk, the chopper can be used against brush fires and others, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Its 1,000-gallon tank can be filled with materials such as foam, or it can suck water from a river or lake to fill the tank in 60 seconds. It can also drop all or part of its load at once, the Army said.
Because the Blackhawk’s landing gear must be altered to accommodate the firefighting system, the National Guard tests the equipment each year.