Sikorsky HH-52 Θαλασσοφύλακας – Φωτογραφίες & Βίντεο

Teh Σικόρσκι HH-52 Ναυαγοσώστης (company designation S-62) was a single turbine engine, three-blade rotor amphibious helicopter. Originally developed as a commercial venture by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of Stratford, Connecticut, it was used by the United States Coast Guard primarily for air-sea rescue. The HH-52 has been replaced by non-amphibious types such as the HH-65 Dolphin, which rely solely on the use of a winch from a low hover to conduct rescue operations.

Πηγή: Sikorsky HH-52 Θαλασσοφύλακας στη Βικιπαίδεια

The Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard was a helicopter used by the United States Coast Guard for search and rescue missions from 1962 to 1989. It was based on the civilian Sikorsky S-62 model, but modified for maritime operations. The HH-52 had a distinctive boat-shaped hull that allowed it to land on water and a retractable landing gear for land operations. It could carry up to 10 passengers or 4 stretchers and had a range of 474 miles (763 km). The HH-52 was equipped with a single General Electric T58-GE-8 turboshaft engine that produced 1,250 horsepower (930 kW) and drove a five-bladed main rotor and a three-bladed tail rotor. The HH-52 was also armed with a .50 caliber machine gun and a rescue hoist.
The HH-52 was the most widely used helicopter in the history of the Coast Guard, with 99 units delivered. It performed over 15,000 rescue missions and saved more than 40,000 lives. It also participated in law enforcement, environmental protection, ice patrol, and military operations. Some of the notable missions of the HH-52 include the rescue of the crew of the SS Marine Electric in 1983, the evacuation of American citizens from Grenada in 1983, and the recovery of the space shuttle Challenger debris in 1986. The HH-52 was retired in 1989 and replaced by the HH-65 Dolphin. Several HH-52s are preserved in museums and monuments across the United States.