Sikorsky Flying Cranes S-60 to S-64

[rotorheadtx]

... and in RAF Flying Review 1/62 there were two helicopter types, unknown to me :
a flying-crane version of the S-60 and a Lockheed four-seat helicopter without any
designation :

Do you mean the S-61 (Sea King)??

The S-60 was a flying crane from the get-go, although it was piston-engined, using the dynamic components of the S-56/H-37 Mojave.

 

[Jemiba]

Yes, but in this drawing it's obviously turbine powered, I think.-

 

[elmayerle]

Yes, but in this drawing it's obviously turbine powered, I think.-

Wonder if the source had a confusion between the S-60 and S-64?

 

[Jemiba]

Don't think so, as the S-64 was mentioned in this article, too.

 

[mcs]

I would venture a guess and say there was a typo in Flying Review and that it should've stated it was a flying crane version of the S-61.

From looking at the drawing, the length appears to be closer to that of the S-61/H-3 as opposed to the S-60. The shape of the doghouse and the fact that it has a five blade tail rotor also appears to indicate that it was a S-61 derivative.

I've seen engineering data on the S-60. One of the documents dated prior to 1/62 illustrates a turbine version of the S-60 and the layout was identical to that of the S-64.

The S-60 still survives, albeit in many pieces, at the New England Air Museum:

http://www.neam.org/inventory/airprofile.asp?ID=123

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0569663&WxsIERv=Fvxbefxl%20F-60%20Fxlpenar&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Fvxbefxl%20Nvepensg&QtODMg=Jvaqfbe%20Ybpxf%20%28Unegsbeq%20%2F%20Fcevatsvryq%29%20-%20Oenqyrl%20Vagreangvbany%20%28OQY%20%2F%20XOQY%29&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Pbaarpgvphg&ktODMp=Ncevy%2029%2C%202004&BP=1&WNEb25u=Qry%20Ynhturel&xsIERvdWdsY=A807&MgTUQtODMgKE=Pbpxcvg%20nern%20bs%20gur%20F-60%20va%20fgbentr%20ng%20gur%20Arj%20Ratynaq%20Nve%20Zhfrhz.%20Gur%20shfryntr%20vf%20nyfb%20va%20fgbentr.%20Guvf%20nvepensg%20jnf%20vaibyirq%20va%20fbzr%20glcr%20bs%20nppvqrag%20va%201961%20juvpu%20cerfhznoyl%20pnhfrq%20gur%20frcnengvba%20bs%20gur%20pbpxcvg%20sebz%20gur%20shfryntr.&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=1033&NEb25uZWxs=2004-05-03%2000%3A00%3A00&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=&static=yes&width=1500&height=1012&sok=JURER%20%20%28ZNGPU%20%28nvepensg%2Cnveyvar%2Ccynpr%2Ccubgb_qngr%2Cpbhagel%2Cerznex%2Ccubgbtencure%2Crznvy%2Clrne%2Cert%2Cnvepensg_trarevp%2Cpa%2Cpbqr%29%20NTNVAFG%20%28%27%2B%22F-60%22%27%20VA%20OBBYRNA%20ZBQR%29%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=1&prev_id=&next_id=0513311

One of these days, I need to contact the museum to see if I can get some close up photos of it.

 

[Jemiba]

When I was searching for the CH-53 crane (is it or is it not ?), I found another
Sikorsky crane heli concept, with a MTOW of nearly 43 ts and a payload of 21.5ts,
intended for carrying an ICBM. Novelty would have been the 11-blade rotor with
the large lenticular hub fairing and twin tail rotors (from Aviation Week 1968 19-26).
The dynamic system would principally have been the same, as in the S-64 project,
shown in Flugwelt 8/1958.

 

[Jos Heyman]

With reference to the mention of the CH-53 in the previous posts, I think we really mean the CH-54. This was the Sikorsky S-64 Tarhe which was based on the S60 design of 1959. The first S64 flew on 9 May 1962. Six pre production aircraft were ordered in June 1963 as YCH 54A-and serials 64-14202/14207, whilst serial 64-4256 probably represents a cancelled order of the YCH-54A. 54 CH-54As production aircraft were built with serials 66-18408/18413, 67-18414/18431 and 68-18432/18459.
The CH-54B was a heavier version with dual main wheels and T73-P-700 engines and 37 were built with serials 69-18460/18484, 70-18485/18490. 71-18491/18498. The 22 universal pods that were used in conjunction with these aircraft were serialled separately as 68-18578/18599. The first of these was accepted on 28 June 1968 and they were fitted with all support systems and could accommodate 45 combat troops. They had an interior length of 27’5”, 8.36 m, a width of 8’10”, 2.69 m and a height of 6’6”, 1.98 m.

 

[circle-5]

Scanned from an old Sikorsky promotional calendar, some color renderings of the HLH and S-64B (3-engine Skycrane).

 

[circle-5]

... and a manufacturer's model of the S-64B.

 

[Pioneer]

Does anyone have any specifications for the S-64B?


Regards
Pioneer

 

[jstar]

Anyone have any good 3 views of the Sikorsky S-60?

That's the son of the S-56 (Ch-37) and the father of the S-64 (CH-54), only one built, that flew between '59 and '61.

Please, not the H-60 Blackhawk (S-70)

Thanks

Joe

 

[mil]

I search for pictures S-60 on the earth at whom to eat I ask to lay out a photo or the address. Thanks.

 

[Stargazer]

I search for pictures S-60 on the earth at whom to eat I ask to lay out a photo or the address. Thanks.

I might have something in old magazines but I can't access them at the moment and have no scanner.

The only picture of the S-60 you will find online showing it on the ground is the following. It shows what remains of the forward fuselage...

 

[LowObservable]

That looks like the front to me unless it's a really strange design...

 

[Stargazer]

That looks like the front to me unless it's a really strange design...

Ha ha! Silly me! Of course aft = rear. What was I thinking of?! Thanks, I've corrected the mistake!

 

[jstar]

Thank you, Stargazer, I do have that one already. There are perhaps four pictures that I can find on the Internet, but they get used over,and over,and...

If you do have a 3 view, I will be forever in your debt.

Joe

 

[Stargazer]

Thank you, Stargazer, I do have that one already. There are perhaps four pictures that I can find on the Internet, but they get used over,and over,and...

If you do have a 3 view, I will be forever in your debt.

Joe

Not sure. I'll have to go through my magazine collection, which at present time is still boxed in the basement since our latest change of houses. At the very least I ought to be able to retrieve a couple of pics that are not the three or four you've mentioned, which are indeed to be found all over the place...

 

[Jemiba]

From an issue of "Der Flieger", bad quality scan, sorry..

 

[mil]

I wanted to have pictures S-60 from old magazines on parking of airdrome or at exhibitions that it stood the chassis on the earth, as for example here http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Airplane-Photo-B375-SIKORSKY-S-60-FLYING-CRANE-/130402473880?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5c97d798

 

[Jemiba]

From Green/Punnett "Observers Book Of Aircraft, 1961" :

 

[Stargazer]

I wanted to have pictures S-60 from old magazines on parking of airdrome or at exhibitions that it stood the chassis on the earth, as for example here http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Airplane-Photo-B375-SIKORSKY-S-60-FLYING-CRANE-/130402473880?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5c97d798

Very nice. I've enlarged and enhanced the picture. Enjoy!

 

[jstar]

Great pictures. Still looking for a good three view, but did find a good side profile and front view in 'Skycrane: Igor Sikorsky's Last Vision' by John A.Mckenna.

Probably the only book ever written on the 'Crane. See also the reviews in the 'Bookshelf and Marketplace' section here.

If only they had included a top view........ and at least mentioned when and why the decision was made to enlarge the aft portion of the cabin to the way it is now, vs. the half cylinder as modeled by Revell and Aurora. Fig 3.2 notes a MWO that revises extra crewman seating, but nothing in the body of the text addresses it.

But don't let this stop you from reading it, and if you DO come across a decent 3 view, let me know.

 

[jstar]

found this over on 'Sport Helicopter & Pilot'. The author was Norman B. Dare,Chief of Procurement and Production in the Heavy Lift Transportation Project Office, US Army Aaviation Systems Command, St.
Louis


" Luckily Sikorsky had a few CH-37 transmissions, which are the same as the CH-54, on hand so that production flow was much shorter. Half way through this production run of 6 the Army held a design review at Sikorsky prior to the second buy of 12 aircraft. This design review resulted in the modification of the rear cylinder shaped aft facing pilot canopy and the extention of the aft portion of the cabin area to form what was then called the "rear porch". It allowed for more space in the cabin pod for movement and storage. "

So now, at least, I know when that happened.

 

[mil]

Whether there are color pictures or photo S-60
In book SKYCRANE: Igor Sikorsky's Last Vision
John A. McKenna
Also it is possible to lay out them on a site.

 

[Stargazer]

Not a three-view, but a profile taken from the 1961 edition of the Toppings Models catalog.
Interestingly, the engines are different from the actual aircraft, and the tail does not yet sport the characteristic triangular extension underneath, which probably indicates how the S-60 was supposed to look like in the early stages.

 

[jstar]

I think this may be an intermediate.. a design in-between the piston engined S-60 and the turbine powered S-64. The Cabin (and note the nosewheel now) and main landing gear look an awful lot like that of the S-64, and the engines look like they might be turbines vs. piston. Probably the design evolved further to install the engines on the top of the boom,eliminating a lot of cross shafting, and finally resulted in the S-64 as we know it now.

 

[blackstar]

Great pictures. Still looking for a good three view, but did find a good side profile and front view in 'Skycrane: Igor Sikorsky's Last Vision' by John A.Mckenna.

Probably the only book ever written on the 'Crane. See also the reviews in the 'Bookshelf and Marketplace' section here.

It's the only one that I know of. A year and a half ago I went to the Sikorsky archives because I was thinking about writing a book on the crane. They told me about McKenna's book and the possibility of an "In Action" book from Squadron/Signal. I decided to put my book idea on hold until after McKenna's came out because he was one of the guys who built it and would know much more than I could figure out. I figured that I could try to pick up more than his covered, such as the firefighting service and Erickson's work to build new cranes. The Squadron/Signal book has not come out yet and I don't know the status. I have managed to get a lot of good pictures of the Tahre in Vietnam, but haven't gone looking for post-Vietnam Army and National Guard service photos. There were some good pictures by Rene Francillion in World Air Power in the 1990s.

 

[Jemiba]

An attempt with the available material about the S-60 and about the S-56.
Many details are still not clear, such as the cross section of the cabin. So, if
someone has more information, I'm grateful and if someone found a ready-made
3-view in a book or magazine, it's time to post it now ! ;D

 

[jstar]

I received these pictures incorporated in an email, hence their small size. I did ask if it would possible to rescan and send the 3-view as an attachment, but have not received a reply yet.

Is their anyone reading these posts who lives in Connecticut? And could maybe visit the museum?

 

[Stargazer]

Are these guys planning to salvage the prototype for a museum or something? That would be cool!

 

[jstar]

I believe the Connecticut Air and Space Museum plan to restore it, and yes, that would be cool.

 

[Jemiba]

Some more photos from InterAvia N° 2, 1960:

 

[Stargazer]

Wonderful pics, Jemiba! Does the vertical line across these scans result from a fault in the scanner you used, or were they a fold in the original magazine?

 

[Jemiba]

Those photos were placed one below the other in the mag and on a
number of pages there's a kink, I couldn't iron out completly, sorry. :-\

 

[fightingirish]

During the last weeks I obtained a few old issues of German magazine "FliegerRevue Extra".
The issue 24 from 2009 shows a S-60 carrying a S-58.

 

[mil]

Thanks, very good pictures if still to eat would like to look. Thanks

 

[mattrix]

Here are my 2c from my old CD. I cannot identify source though.

 

[Stargazer]

Without a doubt this is from the French weekly Aviation Magazine. My dad has this in his collection but unfortunately we're not exactly in good terms these days, so it will be hard checking what the exact issue is for now.

 

[mattrix]

Thank you very much for your clarification Stargazer.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Hi All -

Here's some photos regarding the S-60 which will be restored:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cherrybomb13/5293933632/in/photostream/

There's a lot of work to do....

Enjoy the Day! Mark