The R-4 was the US military designation of the VS-316A, essentially an improved VS-300 with a fully enclosed, fabric-covered structure (the last metre or so of the tail skeleton was left uncovered), slightly larger main rotor diameter, improved engine and without the small, nose-mounted stabilising wheel.
Following promising performance by a prototype, United Aircraft (Vought-Sikorsky Division) accepted a contract in 1941 to develop it further into a twin seater. On 14 Jan 1942, the first (XR-4) Hoverfly was flown. After a historic flight of over 750 miles (in several stages between 13 and 17 May) and acceptance in May 1942, the US ordered 30 machines (YR-4) in 1943.
Following promising performance by a prototype, United Aircraft (Vought-Sikorsky Division) accepted a contract in 1941 to develop it further into a twin seater. On 14 Jan 1942, the first (XR-4) Hoverfly was flown. After a historic flight of over 750 miles (in several stages between 13 and 17 May) and acceptance in May 1942, the US ordered 30 machines (YR-4) in 1943.
R-4 Hoverfly News |
Bristow Commemoration of Helicopter Landing
26-Sep-16 - Seventy years ago, on September 24, 1946, pioneering helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Alan Bristow Royal Navy, became the first Briton to land a helicopter on the deck of a naval frigate at sea Derivatives & Versions of R-4 Hoverfly |
Model | Year | History |
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HNS-1 1944 | 1944 | |
S-49 / R-6 / H-6 1945 | 1945 | The Sikorsky S-49 was derived from the R-4 with a new streamlined fuselage and a lengthened and straightened tail boom. Prototypes XR-6 and YR-6 ... |
S-54 1948 | 1948 | |
List of Operators of R-4 Hoverfly |
Years | Model | Org | |
---|---|---|---|
1944/48 | Fleet Air Arm |
Global Distribution of R-4 Hoverfly |
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Construction Numbers |
C/N | Built as | Year | History | |
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200 | KK995 | |||