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Sikorsky R-5

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H-5
Sikorsky YH-5A USAF.jpg
Sikorsky YH-5A at National Museum of the United States Air Force
Type Helicopter
Manufacturer Sikorsky
Maiden flight 18 August, 1943
Introduced February 1945
Produced 1944-1951
Number built over 300
Variants Westland Widgeon

The Sikorsky R-5 (H-5 after 1948, company VS-327),[1] is a helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, formerly 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). It was also used by the United States Post Office Department.[2]

Design and development

The R-5 was designed to provide a helicopter having greater useful load, endurance, speed, and service ceiling than the Sikorsky R-4. It differed from the R-4 in having a new, longer fuselage for two in tandem[3] and a much greater rotor diameter.[4] The first XR-5 of four ordered made its initial flight on August 18, 1943. In March 1944, the United States Army Air Force ordered 26 YR-5As for service testing, and in February 1945, the first YR-5A was delivered. This order was followed by a production contract for 100, outfitted with racks for two litters (stretchers); only 34 were actually delivered.[5]

Twenty-one YR-5As were fitted with third seat, rescue hoist, auxiliary external fuel tank , and nosewheel; the Navy evaluated three, as the HO2S-1.[6] Five more were converted as dual-control YR-5Es.[7]

A civil version, the S-51, featured four seats and even greater rotor diameter and gross weight, first flew 16 February 1946.[8] (Eleven became USAF R-5Fs; about ninety went to the Navy as HO3S-1s.)[9] In December 1946 an agreement was signed between Westland and Sikorsky to all and anglicized version of the S-51 to be manufactured under license in Britain as the Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Dragonfly all of which were powered by a 500hp Alvis Leonides engine. More than 300 H-5s had been built by the time production was halted in 1951. A considerably modified version was also developed by Westland as the Westland Widgeon.

Thirty-nine additional specialized rescue helicopters were built, as the H-5G, in 1948, while sixteen were fitted with pontoons as the H-5H amphibian in 1949.[10]

The R-5 was designated under the United States Army Air Force system, a series starting with R-1 and proceeded up to about R-16. In 1947 with the start of the United States Air Force, there was a new system, and many aircraft, but not all, were redesignated. The R-6 became the H-6. The United States Army broke off with its own designation system in the 1950s, resulting in new designations for its helicopter projects (such as the HO-6).[11] In 1962 under the new tri-service system (see 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system), many Navy and Army aircraft were given the low numbers. Under the 1962 system, the low H numbers were given to new aircraft. For example, H-6 was given to the HO-6, which entered service as the Cayuse.

Operational history

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.

Variants

HO3S Dragonfly of the US Coast Guard

Sikorsky Dragonfly

XR-5
YR-5A
R-5A
R-5D
YR-5E
H-5
H-5G
H-5H
HO3S-1
HO3S-1G
S-51
Civil transport version.

Westland Dragonfly

Dragonfly HR.1
Air-sea search and rescue helicopter for the Royal Navy powered by a 540-hp (403-kW) Alvis 50 radial piston engine, 13 built some modified later as HR.5s
Dragonfly HC.2
Casualty evacuation helicopter for the Royal Air Force similar to the commercial Mark 1A, three built.
Dragonfly HR.3
Air-sea search and rescue helicopter for the Royal Navy. Similar to the Dragonfly HR.1, but fitted with all-metal rotor blades, 58 built some later modifed as HR.5s.
Dragonfly HC.4
Casualty evacuation helicopter for the RAF similar to the Dragonfly HR.3 with all-metal rotor blades, 12 built.
Dragonfly HR.5
Air-sea search and rescue helicopter for the Royal Navy similar to the Dragonfly HR.3. Modifed from HR.1 and HR.3.
Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Mk 1A
Civil transport helicopter powered by a 520-hp (388-kW) Leonides 521/1 radial piston engine. Built by Westland in the United Kingdom.
Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Mk 1B
Civil transport helicopter powered by a 450-hp (336-kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-134 Wasp Junior radial piston engine.
Westland/Sikorsky WS-51
Prototype.

Operators

Sikorsky S-51

File:050429-F-1234P-026.jpg
Sikorsky H-5 helicopter and Grumman SA-16s of the 3rd Rescue Squadron
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Westland Dragonfly

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Template:Country data Sri Lanka Ceylon
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Survivors

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Length: 41 ft 2 in (12.5 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 48 ft (14.6 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 11 in (3.9 m)
  • Loaded weight: 4,815 lb (2,184 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-985 , 450 hp (335 kW)
  • * Tail rotor diameter: 8 ft 5 in (2.5 m)

Performance

Armament

None


References

  1. ↑ Fitzsimons, Bernard, general editor. Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 20, p.2173, "R-5, Sikorsky".
  2. ↑ What Happens When You Mail a Letter article in "Popular Science" magazine (December 1951)
  3. ↑ Fitzsimons, p.2173.
  4. ↑ Fitzsimons, p.2173.
  5. ↑ Fitzsimons, p.2173.
  6. ↑ Fitzsimons, p.2173.
  7. ↑ Fitzsimons, p.2173.
  8. ↑ Fitzsimons, p.2173.
  9. ↑ Fitzsimons, p.2173.
  10. ↑ Fitzsimons, p.2173.
  11. ↑ Polmar, Norman, & Kennedy, Floyd D., Jr. Military Helicopters of the World (Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1981), p.227

Sources

  • Fitzsimons, Bernard, general editor. Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare, Volume 20, p.2173, "R-5, Sikorsky". London: Phoebus, 1978.
  • Polmar, Norman, & Kennedy, Floyd D., Jr. Military Helicopters of the World. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1981. ISBN 0-87021-383-0.

External links

See also

Related development

Related lists

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Lists relating to aviation
GeneralTimeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
MilitaryAir forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable incidents
and accidents		Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths
RecordsFlight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft

Template:USAF helicopters Template:USN helicopters Template:Sikorsky Aircraft

v • d • e
Lists relating to aviation
GeneralTimeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
MilitaryAir forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable incidents
and accidents		Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths
RecordsFlight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft

fr:Sikorsky H-5 ru:H-5

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