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Sikorsky
Part III




Back to Part II

  • Mar 25, 1959 : S-60

    S-60 Skycrane
    This machine, dubbed the Skycrane , with its thin, strong fuselage could carry any load it could lift.
    The S-60 grew from the S-56, using the same piston engines and dynamic components. It was built as a research vehicle to demonstrate the flying crane concept.

  • Dec 6, 1960 : S-61 L/N : S-61 civilian versions (Large & Naval)


  • May 9, 1962 : S-64 Skycrane ( CH-54 Tarhe )

    Sikorsky 's second Skycrane was delivered first to the West German Minister of Defense in early 1963. The US Army bought 97 with deliveries between June, 1964 and 1972, and in Vietnam was used to retrieve 380 downed aircraft. The last one was retired in 1993 by the 113th Aviation of the Army National Guard based in Reno, Nevada in a time where was already replaced by the less powerful but more flexible Boeing Vertol CH-47 Chinookpage
    S-64
    Length: 26.98 m
    Height: 7.75 m
    Rotor diameter: 21.95 m
    Weight: Empty: 8724 - Max: 20000 kg
    External load: 9400 kg
    Engine: 2 P&W T73-P-1 of 4500 shp each
    Speed: Max: 203 km/h Cruise: 169 km/h
    Range: 370 km
    Service Ceiling: 2475 m
    		CH-54 lifting a Chinook


  • Jun 7, 1963 : S-61 R :

    HH-3 The S-61 Air force's version


  • Oct 14, 1964 : S-65 Sea Stallion ( H-53A/D )

    S-65

    The heavy-lift of the company, the S-65 was ( and still is ) the biggest helicopter of the western world

    Engines:
    CH-53A : 2 General Electric T64-GE-6 of 2850 shp each
    CH-53D : 2 General Electric T64-GE-413 of 3925 shp each
    		Israel S-65

    Read about RH-53D Sea Stallion in Operation Eagle Claw
    The failed rescue of American hostages, Iran, 1980

    Help us:    RH-53D serial numbers



  • 1965 : S-61F
    An experimental version of the S-61 to test high speeds, it reach 390 km/h

    Refueling helicopters from tanker planes was also first attempted this year. After early success, the technique was refined, leading to the decision to produce all later USAF HH-3Es with refueling probes

  • 1966 : S-66
    A development of the S-61F, the S-66 was Sikorsky 's motion for the US Army 's AAFSS competition ( Advanced Aerial Fire Support System )
    Not built, lost again the
    Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne page

  • May 31 / June 1, 1967 :

    Two USAF HH-3E ( Sikorsky S-61R ) made the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight by helicopters , en route to the Paris Air Show.
    Nine aerial refueling were made by each aircraft from C-130 Hercules tankers at altitudes of between 300 and 2800 m and speeds of 200 km/h.
    The 6870 km from New York to Paris were flown in 30 hs 46 min


  • 1969 : S-64E : Commercial version of the Skycrane Tarhe


    Continue Sikorsky Aircraft - Part 4



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