Sikorsky HNS-1 Hoverfly
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation · USA · first flew 1942 · helicopter
The HNS-1 Hoverfly was the US Navy and Coast Guard designation for the Sikorsky R-4, the world's first helicopter to enter production and military service. It was a pioneering machine that proved the operational utility of the helicopter concept.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- US Navy/Coast Guard designation for Sikorsky R-4
- First helicopter to enter military service
- Three-bladed main rotor with open lattice tail boom
Bulbous two-seat cabin with an open lattice tail boom supporting a single anti-torque rotor; the large three-bladed main rotor and entirely exposed structure give it a skeletal appearance compared to later helicopters.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky HNS-1 Hoverfly has a length of 14.7 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.6 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 132 km/h (82 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Igor Sikorsky from his VS-300 design, the R-4 first flew in 1942 and entered US Army service followed by the Navy as HNS-1. It performed the first operational helicopter rescue in wartime conditions, recovering a downed crew in Burma in 1944. The British also operated it as the Hoverfly I.
Variants
The R-4A and R-4B were Army variants; the HNS-1 was the Navy/Coast Guard version. Britain received both versions under Lend-Lease as the Hoverfly I.
Where you'll see it
Served with the US Coast Guard on anti-submarine patrol experiments and with the Navy for training and development; the British used it for training and early helicopter evaluation.
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