Sikorsky H-37 Mojave
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1953 · transport aircraft
The Sikorsky HR2S/H-37 Mojave was the US military's first truly heavy-lift helicopter, powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines mounted in bulging fuselage-side nacelles and featuring clamshell nose doors for straight-in cargo loading. It served with both the US Army and Marine Corps.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Two R-2800 radial engines mounted in fuselage-side nacelles |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large twin-piston heavy-lift helicopter
- Side-by-side clamshell nose doors for cargo loading
- Two R-2800 radial engines mounted in fuselage-side nacelles
The H-37 is unmistakable: two large radial engine nacelles protrude from the sides of the fuselage, clamshell doors open at the nose for vehicle loading, and the large five-blade main rotor sits atop a broad hull — no other helicopter of the era matches this layout.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky H-37 Mojave has a length of 19.59 m (64 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.95 m (72 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 211 km/h (131 mph).
- Typical crew: 3, up to 26 troops.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The XHRS-1 prototype first flew in December 1953, with the HR2S-1 entering Marine Corps service in 1956 and the Army's CH-37A Mojave following shortly after. The type pioneered heavy helicopter operations including artillery lift and vehicle transport, establishing doctrine later refined by the CH-47 and CH-53.
Variants
The HR2S-1 served with the Marines; the CH-37A Mojave and CH-37B (with improved equipment) served with the US Army. The HR2S-1W was a brief airborne early warning experiment with a large radar dome.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the US Army and Marine Corps from the mid-1950s until replaced by the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion and Boeing Vertol CH-47 Chinook in the mid-1960s.
Related aircraft
- Sikorsky HR2S-1 Mojave
- Sikorsky S-58
- Sikorsky HRS-2
- Sikorsky HRS-1
- Douglas C-117D Skytrooper
- FMA IA 35 Huanquero
- FMA IA 35 Ib Huanquero
- Lockheed EC-121K Warning Star
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