An Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flies along the coast in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Nov. 8.

Sikorsky is one aviation's oldest names, and the manufacturer continues to build iconic airframes and futuristic prototypes ...

It is perhaps best known as the namesake aircraft in the 2001 war film “Black Hawk Down,” about a U.S. helicopter shot down in Mogadishu, Somalia, during the civil war there.

They only weigh 1,636 pounds when empty and their typical takeoff weight comes in at 3,350 pounds. Compare that to the Black Hawk's empty weight of 11,853 pounds and the difference is noticeable.

What to know about the aircraft involved: Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk There are about 5,000 Black Hawks in use around the world, according to the aviation site FlightGlobal.com.

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk There are about 5,000 Black Hawks in use around the world, according to the aviation site FlightGlobal.com.

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