Sikorsky H-5

Sikorsky H-5
Maa	Yhdysvallat
Rooli	Helikopteri
Ensimmäinen lento	18. elokuuta 1943
Rakennettu	300+

Nniiden Sikorsky H-5, (initially designated R-5 and also known as S-48, S-51 and by company designation VS-327) was a helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. It was used by the United States Air Force, and its predecessor, the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard (with the designations HO2S and HO3S). It was also used by the United States Post Office Department. In December 1946, an agreement was signed between the British company Westland Aircraft and Sikorsky to produce a British version of the H-5, to be manufactured under license in Britain as the Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Dragonfly. By the time production ceased in 1951, more than 300 examples of all types of the H-5 had been built.

Lähde: Sikorsky H-5 Wikipediassa

Sikorsky HOS3-1G Dragonfly Walk Around
Valokuvaajat	Randy Ray, mitä minä olet?
Lokalisointi	Evergreen Air Museum
Valokuvat	20

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Odota, etsitään Sikorsky H-5: tä sinulle ...

Sikorsky S-51 Helicopter Walk Around
Valokuvaajat	Bill Maloney
Lokalisointi	Amerikan helikopterimuseo
Valokuvat	18

Westland WS-51 Dragonfly Walk Around
Valokuvaaja	Bill Maloney
Lokalisointi	Ei tietää
Valokuvat	19

Katso myös:

Sikorsky H-5 Walk Around
Valokuvaaja	Richard Bullock
Lokalisointi	Ei tietää
Valokuvat	20

The Dawn of Modern Rescue

Nniiden Sikorsky H-5 (originally designated the R-5) was the successor to the boxy, experimental R-4. It was designed to provide significantly more power, speed, and payload, making it the first helicopter truly capable of professional search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation missions. While its civilian counterpart, the S-51, was the first helicopter sold to a commercial user, the H-5 earned its legendary status in the rugged mountains of Korea, where it rescued hundreds of downed pilots and wounded soldiers.

Attribute	Technical Specification (H-5A / S-51)
Rooli	Search and Rescue (SAR) / Utility / Medevac
miehistö	1–2 Pilots (plus 2–3 Passengers)
First Flight	August 18, 1943 (XR-5) / February 16, 1946 (S-51)
Voimalaitos	1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-5 Wasp Junior radial
Horsepower	450 hp (336 kW)
Enimmäisnopeus	106 mph (171 km/h)
Main Rotor Diameter	48 ft (14.6 m)
Etäisyys	360 miles (580 km)

Engineering Milestones and Rescue Gear

The Rescue Hoist: The H-5 was one of the first helicopters to be routinely equipped with an external winch. This allowed crews to pluck pilots out of the water or deep jungle without having to find a landing spot.
External Litters: Because the internal cabin was cramped, the H-5 used aerodynamic “capsules” or open stretchers mounted on the outside of the fuselage. Wounded men were essentially strapped to the sides of the helicopter for transport to field hospitals.
Articulated Rotor Head: The H-5 utilized a three-bladed, fully articulated main rotor. This design allowed the blades to move independently (flapping and lead-lag), which significantly reduced vibration compared to earlier two-bladed models.
The “Double Control” Conversion: Early military versions had tandem (front-to-back) seating. Later modifications allowed for dual controls, making it an excellent trainer for the first generation of military helicopter pilots.

Operational History: “The Bridges at Toko-Ri”

The First Naval Rescue: In February 1947, a Sikorsky S-51 performed the first-ever helicopter rescue of a Navy pilot who had crashed into the sea during carrier operations, proving the “plane guard” concept.
Korea: The First Helicopter War: The H-5 (AF) and HO3S-1 (Navy/Marines) were the workhorses of the Korean War. They were the “angels” that pilots looked for when they went down behind enemy lines. Their success led directly to the formation of dedicated rescue squadrons.
Cultural Icon: The H-5 became a household name through the movie Toko-Rin sillat, which accurately depicted the dangerous, low-level rescue missions flown by Navy pilots in the HO3S-1.
License to Britain: In 1947, Westland Aircraft in the UK licensed the design, producing it as the Dragonfly. This version used a British Alvis Leonides engine and served the Royal Navy and RAF for years.