The Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave was a heavy-lift and transport helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft.
History[]
The Mojave (also known by the company designation S-56) was first developed as a troop transport aircraft for the United States Marine Corps. Design work began in 1951 and the first prototype, known as the XHR2S-1, first flew 18th December 1953. It entered service in July 1956 with the Marine Corps, and shortly after, with the Army, who ordered 94 examples as the H-37A, which were initially assigned to the 4th Medium Helicopter Transportation Company in February 1958.[N 1]
Four of these aircraft were used successfully in Vietnam for the purpose of recovering downed aircraft. At the time, the CH-37 was the largest American helicopter ever made, which allowed it to carry extremely large or heavy loads and assisted in this role. The Mojave also saw experimental use as a sky crane and AWACS aircraft. However, the aircraft had a relatively short service life, being retired by the late sixties due to its large and underpowered piston engines. The S-56 was replaced by the CH-47 Chinook by Boeing. A total of 154 were built, with only five surviving to the present day.
The Sikorsky S-60 was a sky crane variant of the S-56, which, however, never entered operational status. The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane was designed as an enlarged variant of the S-60, which managed to enter service.
Specifications[]
- Powerplant: two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-54 Double Wasp engines
- Maximum speed: 130 mph
- Range: 145 miles
- Service ceiling: 8,700 feet
- Crew: 3
- Capacity: 26 troops or equivilent weight in cargo
- Empty weight: 20,831 lbs
- Length: 64 feet 3 inches
- Height: 22 feet
- Rotor diameter: 72 feet
- Armament: none
References[]
Notes[]
Sources[]
- ↑ World Aircraft Information Files Aviation Partwork. Midsummer Books Ltd. File 907 Sheet 9 (A-Z of Aircraft:SIAI-Marchetti SF.260/TP (cont.) to Sikorsky S-60 Skycrane and S-64 (H-54 Tarhe) )