Piasecki HUP-1 Retriever
Piasecki Helicopter Corporation · USA · first flew 1949 · helicopter
The HUP-1 Retriever was the first production variant of Piasecki's compact tandem-rotor shipboard helicopter, designed specifically to operate from destroyer-sized warships for plane-guard and utility duties. Its overlapping tandem rotors gave a short overall length ideal for shipboard operations.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Compact tandem-rotor shipboard helicopter
- Overlapping rotors with no tail rotor
- Retractable undercarriage for carrier stowage
Compact helicopter with overlapping tandem rotors and no tail rotor, a rounded fuselage with a prominent rescue hatch beneath the cabin, and retractable tricycle undercarriage — the twin overlapping rotors are the definitive recognition feature.
Specifications
- The Piasecki HUP-1 Retriever has a length of 12.4 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.5 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 169 km/h (105 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Following the XHJP-1 prototype, Piasecki produced the HUP-1 from 1949 for the US Navy. The design's compact tandem rotor layout allowed it to fold for below-deck stowage and operate from small ship decks. It served aboard aircraft carriers and cruisers as the primary plane-guard rescue helicopter of the early 1950s.
Variants
The HUP-2 followed with an autopilot system; the HUP-3 was a further development. The Army operated the same aircraft as the H-25 Army Mule.
Where you'll see it
Served with the US Navy from carriers and other warships from the early 1950s into the early 1960s, performing plane-guard, utility, and occasional anti-submarine duties. The French Navy also operated the type.
Related aircraft
- Piasecki HUP Retriever
- Piasecki XHJP-1 Retriever
- Piasecki H-21 Shawnee
- Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever
- Bristol Type 171 Sycamore Mk 2
- Kamov Ka-10
- Sikorsky HRS-1
- Sikorsky UH-19C Chickasaw
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