Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe
Sikorsky Aircraft · United States · first flew 1962 · helicopter
A purpose-built flying crane defined by its skeletal fuselage and underslung load capability, designed for heavy external lifts rather than internal cargo.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Skeletal spine-like open fuselage with no cargo cabin, just a backbone beam |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Skeletal spine-like open fuselage with no cargo cabin, just a backbone beam
- Large central external cargo hook for slung loads and detachable pods
- Aft-facing load-operator station and tall splayed landing gear with high clearance
The open skeletal fuselage is unique and immediately identifies the type. The big central cargo hook, the rearward-facing load station and the tall splayed undercarriage for slinging bulky loads confirm it.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe has a length of 26.97 m (88 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.95 m (72 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 240 km/h (149 mph).
- Typical crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot, aft-facing load operator).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in May 1962, the CH-54 Tarhe, known commercially as the S-64 Skycrane, did away with a conventional cargo hold in favour of an open backbone and a powerful central hoist. An aft-facing crew station let an operator watch and place loads directly.
Variants
The production CH-54A was joined by the uprated CH-54B, and the civil Erickson S-64 Air Crane remains in use for firefighting and heavy lift today.
Where you'll see it
A US Army heavy-lift workhorse in Vietnam, recovering downed aircraft and moving artillery and engineering plant, with the civil Air Crane widely used for aerial firefighting and construction. It had no UK service.
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