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Piasecki HRP (Rescuer)

1947 COLD WAR

History

The Piasecki HRP Rescuer (also known as the Harp) is an American tandem rotor transport or rescue helicopter, designed by Frank Piasecki and manufactured by Piasecki Helicopter. The Piasecki PV-3 has been adopted as the HRP-1 rescuer by the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard.

An improved PV-17 variant was later produced as the HRP-2. One of the first transport helicopters to enter service, the HRP-1 was capable of carrying a crew of two and 8-10 passengers, or 2,000 pounds. (907 kg) to carry cargo.

The prototype helicopter (Piasecki referred to it as the PV-3, although testers often referred to it as a "dog boat") first flew in Morton, Pennsylvania, in March 1945, following a US Navy development contract in February 1944. The Dog Boat is a new stationary tricycle tandem rotor helicopter powered by a 600 hp (447 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 engine.

To ensure that the rotors do not collide, the rear end of the fuselage is bent upwards so that the rear rotors are higher than the front rotors. This is based on Drago Jovanovich's patented design. The hull is made of ordinary low carbon steel pipe, filled with wooden ribs and covered with doped cloth.

After a series of mechanical mishaps on the prototype, including a dislodged transmission gear, it was determined that the use of ordinary automotive components in the helicopter's drivetrain was insufficient for high-intensity flight. Subsequent prototypes built after the war used more powerful components.

Two prototypes were built, designated XHRP-1; one was used as a static test aircraft and the other was used for development flights.

As the first U.S. military helicopter with significant transport capabilities, the HRP-1 was immediately used to transport cargo and personnel. Although officially called the HRP-1 or "Harp," the helicopter's distinctive shape, with no protruding nose on the front rotor shaft, quickly earned it the nickname "Flying Banana." The first HRP-1 rescue aircraft flew on August 15, 1947, and a second batch of 10 was built, the last of which was delivered in 1949.

All powered by a 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 engine. The U.S. Navy ordered a total of 20 HRP-1s, with the majority of the order going to the U.S. Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Three additional helicopters were delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard, designated HRP-1G.

An improved PV-17 all-metal hull was developed in June 1948, and five HRP-2s were ordered; all HRP-2s were delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard for use as lifeboats. Nine HRP-1s formed the backbone of the Navy's first helicopter transport squadron, HMX-1, and were used in various exercises to test the helicopter's ability to transport troops during beach raids or battlefield operations. In service, the HRP-1 frequently encountered various teething and maintenance issues, such as damaged engine mounts and loose fittings. It is not uncommon for fabric coverings to fall off helicopters in flight, often tangling rotor blades.

Despite these problems, the relative success of the Piasecki tandem rotor design led to the creation of the Piasecki H-21 family of helicopters.

Specification

Basics

Years of Service

1947

Origins

United States

Status

retirement

does not work.

Crew

Production

Manufacturer

Piasecki Helicopter - USA

Operators

United States

Roles

Special Mission: Search and Rescue (SAR)

Ability to locate and evacuate personnel from potentially hazardous or dangerous areas, such as downed pilots at sea.

Transportation

General transport function for moving supplies/cargo or people (including casualties and VIPs) out of range.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

54. 0 feet

(16.45m)

Width/span

41. 0 feet

(12.50m)

Height

14.8 feet

(4.52m)

Cured weight

5,302 lbs

(2,405 kg)

MTOW

7,231 lbs

(3,280 kg)

Wgt Difference

+?1,929

(+875kg)

Performance

Installed:

1 x Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 600 hp radial piston engine driving a three-blade front and three-blade rear main rotor configuration.

Maximum speed

106 km/h

(170 km/h | 92 knots)

Maximum

8,530 feet

(2,600 m | 2 km)

Area

301 km

(485 km | 898 nautical miles)

Armor

None.

VARIANTS

PV-3 - Prototype tandem rotor design; powered by a single Wright R-975 piston engine; single airworthy prototype completed. XHRP-1 - Military PV-3 prototypes (two completed); one example can be used for active testing and the other for static work. HRP-1 - Final (and initial) production marking; two examples completed. HRP-1G - US Navy HRP-1 model for US Coast Guard service; three examples.