Sikorsky HR2S-1 Mojave
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation · USA · first flew 1953 · helicopter
The HR2S-1 Mojave was the US Navy designation for the Sikorsky S-56, the largest and most powerful piston-engine helicopter of its era, designed to carry heavy equipment and large numbers of troops for assault operations. It was a significant leap in helicopter capability.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 21.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large twin-piston naval transport helicopter
- US Navy designation for Sikorsky S-56
- Retractable undercarriage and side-mounted engines
Very large helicopter with twin piston engine sponsons flanking a broad fuselage, clamshell nose loading doors, five-bladed main rotor, and retractable undercarriage — the largest single-rotor piston helicopter ever built.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky HR2S-1 Mojave has a length of 21.5 m (71 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.9 m (72 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 204 km/h (127 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The S-56 first flew in 1953 and entered Marine Corps service as the HR2S-1 and Army service as the H-37 Mojave. The design featured two radial piston engines mounted in sponsons on either side of the fuselage, driving a single five-bladed main rotor. The clamshell nose doors allowed direct loading of vehicles and artillery.
Variants
The HR2S-1 was the Navy/Marine Corps version; the Army operated it as the H-37A and H-37B Mojave. A turbine-powered development was proposed but not built.
Where you'll see it
Served with the US Marine Corps and Army in the late 1950s and early 1960s for heavy-lift assault operations; used in the early stages of US involvement in Vietnam before being replaced by the CH-47 Chinook.
Related aircraft
- Sikorsky H-37 Mojave
- Sikorsky S-58
- Sikorsky HRS-2
- Sikorsky HRS-1
- Bell HSL
- Brantly B-2
- Doman LZ-5
- Kaman HH-43 Huskie
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