Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane

The S-64 Skycrane ( military designation: . CH -54 Tarhe - Crane in the Indian dialect of the Wyandot Indians, English cargo helicopter ) is a turbine -powered transport helicopters from U.S. production. Manufactured by the company Sikorsky, he had his first flight on May 9, 1962. The model is found in both military and civilian use.

History of the helicopter

The prototype with the designation S-60 - first flight on 28 March 1959 - with a payload of 5445 kg crashed in 1961. The S-60 - based machine into their basic components on the Sikorsky S- 56th

Since this type should be originally produced for the German Bundeswehr, the following two specimens were tested by this. The prototypes were equipped with two turbines of the type Pratt & Whitney JFTD12 -4A, each with 3,020 kW ( 4,107 hp). These two test samples of Sikorsky were delivered to the company Weser Flugzeugbau, this further developed the machine, so the two copies were also given the name WFS -64A. However, there were no orders from the Federal Republic of Germany for the S-64 Sikorsky to the company.

The U.S. Army ordered in June 1963, first six copies of the helicopter. Overall, about 60 machines of the type CH -54A were produced.

The next version CH- 54B was equipped with the turboshaft engines Pratt & Whitney T73 -700, each with 3,579 kW ( 4,867 hp).

Most of these helicopters during the Vietnam War by the United States - at the 478th and the 291st Aviation Company - used to transport with the main task of loads up to eleven tons, for example lorries, field hospitals, small ships, aircraft, other aircraft, complete workshops and troops. In a special use a Skycrane threw establishing a landing zone in a forest area also has a 4,536 -kg bomb from.

The enormous load capacity has been achieved through the concept with two turbines of the type Pratt & Whitney T73 - P 1, which each developed an output of 3,356 kW ( 4,564 hp).

Because of the large distance of the cockpit from the main rotor and the rotor control at the rear of the helicopter was equipped with a hydraulic transmission of control commands to the rotors that could work just as much backlash and friction.

Since this helicopter was not originally designed for the army, but civilian use, the rotor drive shafts were undisguised. This allowed a much easier maintenance and repair. Due to its long legs and the dimensions of the Skycrane most of its loads to be carried could stand.

A Universal Military container with the dimensions of 8.36 m length, 2.89 m width and 1.98 m height fit exactly under the CH- 54th

In order to assist the pilot and control the loads better, the S-64 had on the back of his cockpit a large window from which a third crew member - the so-called crane operator - control the helicopter while picking up and setting as well as during the flight was supervised load.

The loads were transported either in interchangeable pods or steel cables. Some of these helicopters were also equipped with skids, which, for example, landings allowed on ice.

Overall, the U.S. Army received in the period 1964-1972 97 Tarhe helicopter. Towards the end of the service they were replaced by tandem rotor helicopters Boeing Vertol CH -47. Last only National Guard units were equipped with machines of this type. In 1993 ended the military service for the CH- 54th

Worth mentioning is the record flight of a Sikorsky CH- 54B in 1972 to 11,200 m altitude, but in the same year by the Frenchman Jean Boulet with an SA -315 " Lama " improves on 12,442 m and only in 2002 by Frédéric North with a Eurocopter AS 350 further increased to 12,954 m.

In 1992, Sikorsky sold the rights to the Skycrane to the company Erickson Air -Crane Co in Oregon / USA. This company uses the - designated as S-64 in the civilian version - a machine as a load helicopters on large construction sites and oil fields in large-scale forest operations or as extinguishing helicopter.

Variants

The internally designated as S- 64E helicopter variant was built in a series of 54 pieces with two 3,400 -kW turbine Pratt & Whitney T73 - P-1.

Military user

United States United States

Specifications

Sikorsky CH -54 in museums

Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson / Arizona ( USA)
United States Army Aviation Museum, Ozark / Alabama ( USA)

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