With Hobby Master testing the helicopter market and established players such as Forces of Valor and Corgi continuing to provide vertical envelopment, Air Force 1 has quietly staked its own claim the to the rotary wing arena. This summer, two renditions of the ubiquitous Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter are slated to drop in, each looking to provide a different take on the workhorse of US combat forces.

Firs up is this US Navy Sikorsky MH-60 Knighthawk Helicopter, which was attached to HSC-2 “Fleet Angels”, then deployed to NAS Norfolk, VA during 2008 (AF10090A). The multimission Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter entered service in February 2002. The US Navy is expected to acquire a total of 237 of the MH-60S helicopters, to carry out missions such as vertical replenishment, combat search and rescue, special warfare support and airborne mine countermeasures.

The helicopter began full-rate production in August 2002. As of January 2011 52 MH-60R and 154 MH-60S helicopters were in the service with the US Navy. First deployment of the new helicopter took place on board USS Essex, Wasp Class amphibious assault ship, in January 2003 and a number of MH-60S helicopters were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The helicopter was originally designated CH-60S, as a replacement for the US Navy’s Boeing CH-46D Sea Knight heavy-lift helicopters in the vertical replenishment role. The helicopter was redesignated MH-60S as a result of an expansion in mission requirements to include a range of additional combat support capabilities. Retirement of the US Navy Sea Knights concluded in September 2004.

Later this summer, expect to lay claim to this US Sikorsky HH-60M (MEDEVAC) Black Hawk Helicopter, which was attached to the 377th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), then deployed to South Korea during April 2007. The HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter is a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) version of the UH-60M Black Hawk multi-mission helicopter. Built by Sikorsky Aircraf for the US Army, the helicopter is designed to evacuate wounded troops from the battlefield.

The HH-60M helicopter is integrated with medical evacuation mission equipment package (MEP) kit. It provides aerial medical support and ambulatory patient transport services. The helicopter can be reconfigured to carry out missions including personnel transport, search and rescue, resupply, aerial reconnaissance, cargo transport, and wild fire suppression.

Both helicopters are ruggedly constructed out of diecast metal and feature free-spinning rotors, sliding side access doors, accurate markings and insignia and a sturdy display stand.