Sikorsky S-58
The Sikorsky S-58 was a larger successor to the S-55 and became a widely used military and civil utility helicopter. Its nose-mounted radial engine and high cabin allowed troops, passengers, or rescue equipment to be carried behind the cockpit. The US Navy used it as the HSS-1 Sea Bat for anti-submarine warfare, while other variants served with the Army and Marine Corps. Many S-58s were later converted to turbine power, extending the design’s life well beyond its 1950s origins.
Did you know?
The Sikorsky S-58 served the US Navy as the HSS-1 Sea Bat submarine hunter before many airframes were later converted to turbine power.
Specifications
| Length | 14.3 m (47 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 4.1 m (13 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 17.1 m (56 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 12 |
| Persons on board | 20 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 6.3 t |
| Range | 270 NM (500 km) |
| Maximum speed | 110 kt (204 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 8,000 ft (2,438 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,100 ft/min (5.6 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 1,160 l |
| Engines | 1x Wright R-1820-84 |
| Units built | 1,868 |
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 S-58 starts as a Legendary 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. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Sikorsky, the S-58 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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