Sikorsky HH-3
The Sikorsky S-61R was a military transport and search-and-rescue helicopter derived from the SH-3 Sea King, set apart by a rear loading ramp, a conventional watertight hull, and retractable tricycle gear. In U.S. service it flew as the Air Force CH-3C/E Jolly Green Giant and the Coast Guard HH-3F Pelican. In 1967 two HH-3Es made the first nonstop helicopter flight across the Atlantic, taking 30 hours 46 minutes with nine in-flight refuelings. Italian Agusta also built the type under license as the AS-61R for air-sea rescue.
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Did you know?
The S-61R added a rear cargo ramp that its Sea King parent lacked, turning a naval submarine-hunter into a design built for loading troops and equipment quickly.
Specifications
| Length | 18 m (59 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 5.1 m (17 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 18.9 m (62 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 28 |
| Persons on board | 30 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 9.7 t |
| Range | 650 NM (1,204 km) |
| Maximum speed | 145 kt (269 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 14,500 ft (4,420 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Fuel capacity | 3,180 l |
| Engines | 2x General Electric T58-GE-10 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Sikorsky HH-3 starts as a Very rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
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