Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1958 · helicopter

The Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard was the primary search and rescue helicopter of the US Coast Guard from 1963 to 1989, an amphibious design capable of alighting on water to retrieve survivors. It rescued more than 15,000 people during its service life.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	13.58 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Single-turboshaft amphibious rescue helicopter with boat hull
Fixed tricycle float undercarriage for water landings
Characteristic USCG orange and white livery in service photos

The boat-hull fuselage sitting on fixed floats, single rotor, and turboshaft engine above the cabin identify the HH-52A; the USCG's orange stripe was its most visible field marker.

Specifications

The Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard has a length of 13.58 m (45 ft).
It has a wingspan of 16 m (52 ft).
Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
Typical crew: 3.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Based on the civil S-62, the HH-52A first flew in 1958 and entered Coast Guard service in 1963. Its boat hull and fixed floats allowed open-ocean landings impossible for conventional helicopters. It served until replaced by the HH-65 Dolphin and HH-60 Jayhawk in the late 1980s.

Variants

The civil S-62 was the parent design; the HH-52A was the Coast Guard-specific military version. No other significant variants were produced.

Where you'll see it

Exclusive to the United States Coast Guard; all retired by 1989. Several examples are preserved in US Coast Guard and aviation museums.

Related aircraft

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