IRVINE, Calif.—The Orange County Fire Authority Thursday announced it had approved the acquisition of two new firefighting helicopters.
The new Sikorsky S70 Firehawk helicopters were approved by the authority’s board a week ago. The new helicopters replace the authority’s 1966 UH-1H “Super Hueys” which had become too expensive to maintain.
A Sikorsky S70 Firehawk helicopter. (Courtesy of the Orange County Fire Authority)
A Sikorsky S70 Firehawk helicopter. (Courtesy of the Orange County Fire Authority)
The new aircraft is the same as used in departments in Santa Barbara, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, San Diego, and the state.
The authority also has two Bell 412EP helicopters, so the Firehawks will up the department’s firefighters from the air to four vehicles….