Sikorsky H-5
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Image:Sikorsky YH-5A USAF.jpg
The Sikorsky H-5 initially R-5, is a helicopter formerly 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).
The H-5 was designed to provide a helicopter having greater useful load, endurance, speed, and service ceiling than the Sikorsky R-4. The first XR-5 of four ordered made its initial flight on August 18, 1943. In March 1944, the United States Army Air Forces ordered 26 YR-5As for service testing, and in February 1945, the first YR-5A was delivered.
During its service life, the H-5 was used for rescue and mercy missions throughout the world. It gained its greatest fame, however, during the Korean War when it was called upon repeatedly to rescue United Nations' pilots shot down behind enemy lines and to evacuate wounded personnel from frontline areas before being replaced in most roles by the H-19 Chickasaw.
It was also manufactured under license in Britain by Westland as the Dragonfly I.
More than 300 H-5s had been built by the time production was halted in 1951.
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[edit] Specifications
- Main rotor diameter: 48 ft (14.6 m)
- Tail rotor diameter: 8 ft 5 in (2.5 m)
- Fuselage Length: 41 ft 2 in (12.5 m)
- Height: 12 ft. 11 in. (3.9 m)
- Weight: 4,815 lb (2,184 kg) loaded
- Armament: None
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 of 450 hp (335.5 kW)
- Maximum speed: 90 mph (144.8 km/h)
- Cruising speed: 70 mph (112.6 km/h)
- Range: 280 miles (450.6 km)
- Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3000 m)
[edit] H-5 Museum displays
[edit] Military Operators
- Sikorsky S-51 : Brazil, Canada, Japan, Philippines, United States (US Army, US Air Force, US Navy).
- Westland Dragonfly : Belgium, Ceylon, (Sri Lanka), Egypt, France, Italy, Thailand, United Kingdom (Royal Air Force, Royal Navy), Yugoslavia.
[edit] See also
- Westland Widgeon - Westlands improved version
- Sikorsky R-4
