Recoil Aerospace

Recoil Aerospace is a company in Bowling Green, Kentucky that designs, tests, manufactures and certifies lightweight carbon fiber tank systems for helicopters. Its About page says it was founded in 2008 by a former Army helicopter pilot, and that new investors recapitalized the company in January 2023. Products serve military and commercial customers worldwide.

Products

• Tsunami Internal and External Aerial Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS)
• U1000 utility tank and other expeditionary fuel tanks, including HARPS and OASIS
• Zeus Auxiliary Fuel Tanks for military and civil helicopters, supplied as collapsible bags
• Custom designed fluid and utility cargo tanks

Aircraft supported

The Tsunami External system lists compatibility with the UH-60A and UH-60L, EH-60A, HH-60L, S-70i and S-70M, S-92, EC225, H225, AS330 and AS332 variants. Its specifications include a carbon fiber tank, fill time of 25 to 40 seconds, drop time of 5 to 6 seconds, a tank weight of 750 lb (340 kg) including snorkel, and installation in about 45 minutes with no airframe modification.

Approvals

The Tsunami page lists FAA STC SR02584AK(AML), EASA approval 10084620, and approvals from Transport Canada, Brazil (ANAC), Australia, South Korea, Morocco and Mexico. The company also publishes a Recoil Approved Model List on its Certifications page.

Company facts

• Founded in 2008
• Based in Bowling Green, Kentucky
• Recapitalized by new investors in January 2023
• U.S. based team handling design, testing, manufacturing and certification

Who it serves

Customers are military forces, firefighting agencies and commercial operators that fly large helicopters. The Zeus bag style tanks are described as weighing up to 50 percent less than competing products, and the Zeus Z18 R-Bag is a flexible, collapsible tactical fuel bag for refuelling aircraft and field equipment in austere locations.