Semper torque |
Sikorsky CH-37C "Mojave"
1966 The S-56 came into being as an assault transport for the USMC, with a capacity of 26 fully-equipped troops; the order was placed in 1951, the first prototype flew in 1953, and production deliveries of the HR2S began in July 1956 to Marine Corsp Squadron HMX-1, sixty aircraft in total being produced. In the 1962 unification of United States military aircraft designations, USMC examples became CH-37C. At the time of delivery, the CH-37 was the largest helicopter in the Western world, and it was Sikorsky's first twin-engined helicopter. Two Pratt & Whitney Double Wasps were mounted in outboard pods that also contained the retractable landing gear. This left the fuselage free for cargo, which could be loaded and unloaded through large clamshell doors in the nose. The single main rotor was five-bladed, and designed to function with one blade shot away in combat. The CH-37 was one of the last heavy helicopters to use piston engines, which were larger, heavier and less powerful than the turboshafts subsequently employed. This accounted for the type's fairly short service life, all being withdrawn from service by the late 1960s. Four CH-37Bs were deployed to Vietnan in 1963 to assist in the recovery of downed United States aircraft. They were very successful at this role, recovering over $7.5 million dollars' worth of equipment, some of which were recovered from behind enemy lines. General characteristics Crew: 3 Capacity: 26 troops Length: 88 ft 0 in (26.8 m) Rotor diameter: 72 ft 1 in (22.0 m) Height: 22 ft in (m) Disc area: 4,080 ft² (379 m²) Max takeoff weight: 21,000 lb (9,500 kg) Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-2800-54 "Double Wasp" radial engines, 2,100 hp (1,600 kW) each Maximum speed: 131 mph (114 kn, 211 km/h) Range: 247 mi (215 NM, 400 km) Service ceiling: 8,000 ft (m) USN89 René Hieronymus Scale 1:72 Building time: 39 hrs. |