Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

Sikorsky H-5

History

The road to finding a viable battlefield helicopter is long and arduous. Helicopters received serious military consideration during World War II (1939-1945), when technology finally began to support helicopters under the pressure of war.

During the conflict, the Germans experimented with several notable helicopters, including several supplied by Flettner and Focke-Achgelis. In the United States, Sikorsky eventually pioneered the development of helicopters for Americans, launching the VS-300 (under the Vought-Sikorsky brand) in September 1939.

The R-6 variant appeared at the end of the war, 25 of which were produced and operated by the United States Navy (USN) and Royal Air Force (RAF) services.

Development and Tour

Back on August 18, 1943, Sikorsky took the maiden flight of their new VS-327, a light single-engine utility helicopter serving the military and civilian markets. The design was intended as a more powerful replacement for the earlier R-4, with changes to accommodate higher operating tolerances - primarily main rotor diameter and extensive fuselage modifications. The result is a sleeker aircraft with an overhead three-blade main rotor unit and a port-facing two-blade tail rotor unit.

Fixed wheeled undercarriage was used for ground travel (early forms had a tail wheel arrangement, later forms used tricycles). The two sat one behind the other under a heavy frame. The engine was installed in a compartment behind the crew compartment.

Dimensions include 57 feet overall length, 48 feet width (including main rotor diameter) and 13 feet height. The curb weight is 3,780 pounds, while the fully loaded weight is 4,825 pounds.

In addition to the typical seating for two crew members, the helicopter has built-in the ability to carry two medical limousines basically baskets suspended on the sides of the fuselage on external boxes.

USN tested the R-5 series as HO2S-1 on two examples, initially participating in 34 of them. However, the service handed over the design to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and cancelled their purchase order. 88 prototypes of the four-seat HO3S-1 based on the H-5F entered service. HO3S-1G are nine HO3S-1 platforms operated by USCG.

The HO3S-3 became the naval model of the H-5H, but the model was not further developed. When tested in 1950, the disposable HO3S-3 used a new rotor.

Global Impact

Over 300 H-5 helicopters were eventually produced. Operators include Argentina, Australia, Canada, the Republic of China (Taiwan), France, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and of course the United States. All four major U.S. military branches operate the genre in form (and role) or otherwise. The British took over licensed production of the series under the name WS-51 "Dragonfly" (described in detail elsewhere on this site), which bears the Westland brand label.

From 1949 to 1954, 133 were built for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Introduced in 1950, the Westland Widget is a notable offshoot of the product's UK work.

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) operations with the H-5 have focused on training to fly the helicopter and testing various configurations and technologies on surviving platforms.

It took a while for the helicopter to become a useful part on the battlefield, and its importance became more and more important during the Korean War of 1950-1953. It wasn't until the United States was involved in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) that helicopters really took off on the battlefield (mainly thanks to the development of highly efficient turboshaft engines).

The design became a troop carrier, a search and rescue platform, a reconnaissance force, a medical evacuation system and even an armed attack helicopter. However, what finally made this possible was the contribution of the Sikorsky H-5 series.