Sikorsky S-60
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The Sikorsky S-60 is a prototype flying crane helicopter derived from the S-56. Proving to be underpowered, the development of the S-60 led to the larger, turbine-engined Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe military transport helicopter, and its civil S-64 Skycrane variant, which were already on the drawing board by the time the sole example of the S-60 crashed on 3 April 1961.[1]
Like the S-56/H-37 it was powered by two Wasp radial piston engines, but it had a radically different fuselage; rather than a fixed cabin it only had a cockpit and an open area in which pods with different tasks could be carried. Although it did not enter service, it was evaluated by the U.S. Army and Navy, and led to further development of this concept.
Design and development
In 1958, Sikorsky began designing the S-60 as a prototype "flying crane" helicopter. The S-60 utilized the transmission, rotor system and piston engines from the CH-37/S-56.[2][3]
The fuselage of the S-60 was a simple "pod-and-boom" design with the engines mounted in side pods and long tailwheel-style landing gear that allowed it to straddle cargoes. The crew cabin was mounted in the nose, with aft-mounted controls for the co-pilot to use during loading and unloading operations. The S-60 had an automatic stabilization system to allow it to hover precisely, using inputs from a sidestick controller. Up to Script error: No such module "convert". of outsized cargo such as vehicles could be slung beneath the boom, while passengers and other cargo could be carried in a large interchangeable pod that attached to the fuselage.[2][3]
Operational history
The S-60 (registered N807) first flew on March 25, 1959. The helicopter accumulated 333 hours of flight in its two-year flight career, and was evaluated by the US Navy, with demonstrations also flown for the US Army. While effective in its designed role, the helicopter proved to be underpowered. Sikorsky was already working on an enlarged, turboshaft-powered successor, the Model S-64, which was ordered into production for the US Army as the Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe.[2][3]
Igor Sikorsky was fully involved in the development of the prototype S-60, from the initial design through flight testing. It was one of the last aircraft to have this distinction. The prototype crashed in April 1961.[4]
Survivor
The wreckage of the S-60 was transferred to the New England Air Museum in the 1970s, and is currently being restored by its new owners, the Connecticut Air and Space Center, in Stratford, Connecticut.[5]
Specifications (S-60)
See also
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- Aerial crane
- Sikorsky UH-60 (Sikorsky S-70)
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- Notes
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- ↑ "Occurrence #70643: Sikorsky S-60 crash: 3 April 1961." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved: 14 June 2011.
- ↑ a b c Donald 1997, p.?
- ↑ a b c Harding 1997, p. 237.
- ↑ Warbird Information Exchange
- ↑ "S-60 Prototype SkyCrane." Template:Webarchive cascstratford.wordpress.com. Retrieved: 23 November 2010.
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- Bibliography
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- Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1997. Template:ISBN.
- Harding, Stephen. U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947: An Illustrated History. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1997, First edition 1990. Template:ISBN.
External links
- Greg Goebel's Vectorsite: Sikorsky Giant Helicopters: S-64, S-65 and S-80Template:Category handler[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- CH-54 Skycrane/Tarhe on Global Security.org
- HELIS.com Sikorsky S-60 Database
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