Sikorsky – Coast Guard Aviation History

Sikorsky HH-60J “Jayhawk” (1990)

Sikorsky HH-60J “Jayhawk” The HH-60J Jayhawk is a medium-range recovery helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. It is a multi-mission aircraft used to perform search and rescue, law enforcement, military readiness, and marine environmental protection missions. The United States Coast Guard purchased 42 HH-60Js. They replaced the Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican helicopters that the Coast Guard had used for over 20 years. The HH-60J is similar to the HH-3F in many ways, and the assigned missions are the same. However, the HH-60J has numerous upgrades including a state of the art electronics package. The HH-60J is lighter, faster and the engines have more power. It does not, however, have the water landing capability that the HH-3F had. The Jayhawk can fly 300 miles offshore, remain on scene 45 minutes, hoist six people on board, and return to its point of origin with a safe fuel reserve. Normal cruising speeds of 135-140 knots can be increased to a "dash" speed of 180 knots [...]

Sikorsky HH-60J “Jayhawk” (1990)Margaret Jordan2017-07-13T22:28:21+00:00

Sikorsky- HH-3F “Pelican” (1967)

Sikorsky- HH-3F “Pelican” In November 1967 the US Coast Guard procured the first of the HH-3F Pelican Helicopters. This twin turbine, medium range, amphibious, all weather helicopter extended the Coast Guard offshore search and rescue capabilities. The HH-3F had a maximum speed of 142 knots with a normal cruise speed of 130 knots and a range of 650 NM. The Coast Guard purchased 40 HH-3F's. The last one was delivered in 1973. The HH-3F was manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft, Division of United Aircraft Corporation, Stratford, Connecticut. The HH-3F was equipped with a single main rotor, twin engines rated at 1500 SHP each, a fully retractable tricycle landing gear, amphibious capabilities, and a hydraulically operated aft ramp that could be opened in flight, on the ground, or on water. The HH-3F was additionally well suited for marine environmental protection, logistic and reconnaissance support, enforcement of laws and treaties, defense readiness and drug interdiction. . A sliding cargo door is located on [...]

Sikorsky- HH-3F “Pelican” (1967)Margaret Jordan2019-01-10T15:41:53+00:00

Sikorsky HH-52A “Seaguard” (1963)

Sikorsky HH-52A “Seaguard” The Sikorsky HH-52A helicopter was developed from a Sikorsky commercial S-62 amphibious helicopter. The S–62 had features that were desired by the Coast Guard. It floated on an amphibious hull, it was turbine powered, had a large main cabin and it was built utilizing proven components..The automatic stabilization system used on the S-62 was a scaled version of the larger S-61 (SH-3). The rotor system came from the S-55 (HO4S), as did most of the drive system which had already proven to be reliable. The assembly was design limited to 730 shaft horsepower. Small jet engines suitable for helicopters were rare and not available at the time. Sikorsky solved the problem by using a 1230 SHP General Electric T-58-GE-8B engine and derating it. With the extra 500 HP worth of air capacity on the front end density altitude was not an operational problem. A Coast Guard Evaluation Program confirmed the contractor claims for performance and suitability to fill the [...]

Sikorsky HH-52A “Seaguard” (1963)Margaret Jordan2017-07-13T22:33:06+00:00

Sikorsky HUS-1G (HH-34) “Seahorse” (1959)

Sikorsky HUS-1G (HH-34) “Seahorse” The Coast Guard acquired six HUS-1Gs from Sikorsky in 1959. It was medium range utility helicopter, its primary mission in the Coast Guard was search and rescue work. It was also suited for transporting personnel and cargo, reconnaissance, and general utility. The main cabin is located directly beneath the main rotor with pilots' compartment above and forward of cabin. A Wright engine located in the nose is accessible by clamshell doors. Interior accommodations included side-by-side seating for pilot and co-pilot and 10 seats for passengers in the cabin. Design features include a 600-lb. rescue hoist, automatic stabilization system, towing apparatus, provisions for instruments and night flying, a droppable fuel tank an port side for range extension, and dual control systems. It was planned to replace the HO4S helicopters with the HUS. Three out of the first six were lost in over water accidents by November of 1962. As a result the Coast Guard opted for the HH-52A turbine helicopter. Under a DOD directive dated [...]

Sikorsky HUS-1G (HH-34) “Seahorse” (1959)Margaret Jordan2017-07-13T22:33:18+00:00

Sikorsky HO5S-1G (1952)

Sikorsky HO5S-1G Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation's two-seat S-52, the first helicopter to have all-metal rotor blades, first flew on 12 February 1947. Sikorsky developed a four-seat model and gave it the more powerful Franklin 0-425-1 engine. This model was first accepted first by the Marine Corps. It received the designation HO5S-1. The Coast Guard acquired their HO5S-1Gs in September 1952. They proved to be weight limited. Short ranged and the cabin space was too small. Manufacturer: Model: Year: 1952

Sikorsky HO5S-1G (1952)Margaret Jordan2017-07-13T22:34:39+00:00

Sikorsky HO4S-2G / 3G; “Horse” (1951)

Sikorsky HO4S-2G / 3G; “Horse” Late in 1951, the Coast Guard acquired the Sikorsky HO4S-2G helicopter for search and rescue duty. Seven helicopters were obtained on the initial order. Cruising speed was 80 knots and top speed was 115 knots, ceiling 16,000 feet and range, 400 miles. In 1953 the first of 24 upgraded HO4S-3Gs came aboard. Ten additional HRS (HO4S-3G) were obtained from the Navy .in 1961. The HO4S helicopters extended the Coast Guard’s rescue capabilities far beyond what was imagined 20 years prior. Although underpowered by today’s standards it was the first operational helicopter capable of carrying multiple survivors in a cabin and carry heavy loads. It had a rescue hoist capable of lifting 400 pounds. It proved, beyond all doubt, the capabilities and value of the helicopter for Coast Guard operations. They performed numerous rescues during the next decade, some best described as miraculous, within parameters never before achieved. Such was the case when a single HO4S helicopter crew [...]

Sikorsky HO4S-2G / 3G; “Horse” (1951)Margaret Jordan2017-07-13T22:35:06+00:00

Sikorsky HO3S-1G (1946)

Sikorsky HO3S-1G Four Sikorsky S-51 helicopters, which had been sold to small commercial operators after WWII, were returned to Sikorsky. Sikorsky had originally designed the S-51 with rescue utilization in mind. They were offered to the Coast Guard. CAPT Richard Burke, who had been responsible for sending the helicopters up to Newfoundland for the Sabena rescue, had been assigned as the Chief of the Coast Guard Aviation Division at Headquarters. Money was found for the purchase and the Coast Guard acquired four S-51 helicopters which were designated as HO3S-1G. An additional five HO3S-1Gs were purchased in 1949/1950. Each of the HO3S-1G was fitted with a rescue hoist and the Coast Guard's Rotary Wing Development Unit based out of Elizabeth City, N.C., experimented with a number of other innovations that enhanced the helicopters' versatility, including a rescue basket and emergency flotation bags that were fitted around the landing gear. The size of the rescue basket, however, and the limited room within the HO3S's [...]

Sikorsky HO3S-1G (1946)Margaret Jordan2017-07-13T22:36:57+00:00

Sikorsky HO2S-1 (1946)

Sikorsky HO2S-1 The Coast used two HO2S-1s to test and develop helicopter dipping Sonar for ASW operations. In January of 1946 LT. Stewart Graham reported to Commander Anti-Submarine Development Detachment VX-1 for temporary duty. A LST fitted with a platform served as a helicopter carrier, a destroyer served as the control station, two smaller vessels took underwater sound measurements and several submarines – including a captured German U-boat – served as targets. Actual testing began on 22 March using a U.S. Submarine between Key West and Cuba. Success was immediate. The final test was conducted using the German U-boat, the newer type, capable of a sustained 15 knots underwater. The sonar worked very well. Graham later wrote “that once the helicopter sonar tests were analyzed even the most skeptical decision-makers were convinced that the helicopter mounted sonar was a very anti-submarine warfare program.” Manufacturer: Model: Year: 1946

Sikorsky HO2S-1 (1946)Margaret Jordan2017-07-13T22:37:34+00:00

Sikorsky HOS-1 (R-6) (1945)

Sikorsky HOS-1 (R-6) Sikorsky designed the HOS-1(R-6) as a follow on to his fabric covered HNS-1 (R-4). While retaining the R-4's rotor and transmission system, the R-6 had an all-metal fuselage. In October 1944 the first of three XHOS-1 were delivered to the US Navy and transferred to the US Coast Guard Air Station Floyd Bennett Field for test and evaluation. One of these crashed. The Navy then acquired 36 HOS-1 (R-6A) from the Army Air Force which were purchased by the Coast Guard between January 1945 and January 1946. Of these, two were destroyed in crashes (no fatalities), and the majority of the remaining helicopters were returned to the Navy or disposed of with the closing of the helicopter training school On 18 June 1946 CDR Erickson was moved to the Coast Guard Elizabeth City air station. His downsized Helicopter Test and Development Unit consisted of a small group of dedicated personnel, one hangar, one HNS and two HOS helicopters. [...]

Sikorsky HOS-1 (R-6) (1945)Margaret Jordan2017-07-13T22:37:58+00:00

Sikorsky HNS-1 “Hoverfly” (1943)

Sikorsky HNS-1 "Hoverfly" It was the Army that first recognized the potential of the Sikorsky Helicopter. The YR-4A could not carry much more than the pilot and one other person. However the HNS-1, the Navy designation for the R4 was built to train pilots. Operational missions would be handled by later aircraft that were coming up on the production line. ADM Ernest J. King, Chief of Naval Operations issued a directive that placed the responsibility for the seagoing development of the helicopter with the U.S. Coast Guard. In November 1943, a helicopter pilot training program was begun at Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn, CDR Frank Erickson Commanding. Erickson trained a total of 102 helicopter pilots and 225 mechanics during the war, including personnel from the Army Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and the British Army, Royal Air Force and Navy. He went on to develop equipment such as the power hoist, rescue slings and baskets, floats that permitted helicopters to land on [...]

Sikorsky HNS-1 “Hoverfly” (1943)Margaret Jordan2017-07-20T15:00:53+00:00