Sikorsky S-61
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| S-61L/S-61N | |
|---|---|
 HeliJet's S-61N at Vancouver International Airport |
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| Type | Medium-lift transport/airliner helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky |
| Maiden flight | March 11, 1959 |
| Introduction | September 1961 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | Canadian Coast Guard CHC Helicopter Bristow Helicopters HeliJet |
| Number built | 119[1] |
| Developed from | SH-3 Sea King |
| Variants | Sikorsky S-61R |
The Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N are civil variants of the successful SH-3 Sea King helicopter. They are two of the most widely used airliner and oil rig support helicopters built.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
In September 1957, Sikorsky won a US Navy development contract for an amphibious anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter capable of detecting and attacking submarines.[1] The XHSS-2 Sea King prototype flew on March 11, 1959. Production deliveries of the HSS-2 (later designated SH-3A) began in September 1961, with the initial production aircraft being powered by by two 930kW (1250shp) General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshafts.
Sikorsky was quick to develop a commercial model of the Sea King.[1] The S-61L first flew on November 2, 1961, and was 4ft 3in (1.27m) longer than the HSS-2 in order to carry a substantial payload of freight or passengers. Initial production S-61Ls were powered by two 1350shp (1005kW) GE CT58-140 turboshafts, the civil version of the T58. The S-61L features a modified landing gear without float stabilisers.
Los Angeles Airways was the first civil operator of the S-61[2] introducing them on March 1, 1962 for a purchased price of $650,000 each. [3]
On August 7, 1962, the S-61N made its first flight.[1] Otherwise identical to the S-61L, this version is optimized for overwater operations, particularly oil rig support, by retaining the SH-3's floats. Both the S-61L and S-61N were subsequently updated to Mk II standard with improvements including more powerful CT58-110 engines giving better hot and high performance, vibration damping and other detail refinements.
The Payloader, a stripped down version optimised for aerial crane work, was the third civil model of the S-61.[1] The Payloader features the fixed undercarriage of the S-61L, but with an empty weight almost 2000lb (900kg) less than the standard S-61N.
A unique version is the S-61 Shortsky conversion of S-61Ls and Ns by Helipro International.[1] The fuselage is shortened by 50in (1.6m) to increase single engine performance and external payload. The Shortsky conversion first flew in February 1996.
[edit] Variants
- S-61L
- Non-amphibious civil transport version. It can seat up to 30 passengers (13 Built).
- S-61L Mk II
- Improved version of the S-61L helicopter, equipped with cargo bins.
- S-61N
- Amphibious civil transport version.
- S-61N Mk II
- Improved version of the S-61N helicopter.
- S-61 Payloader
- Stripped down machine optimised for aerial crane work; features the fixed undercarriage of the S-61L, but with an empty weight almost 900kg (2000lb) less than the standard S-61N.
- S-61 Shortsky
- Shortened conversion of the S-61L and N, designed to increase single engine performance and external payload.
[edit] Operators
- CHC Helicopter
- Canadian Coast Guard
- HeliJet
- Cougar Helicopters
- VIH Helicopters
- BEA Helicopters
- Bristow Helicopters
- British Airways
- British Caledonian Helicopters
- British International Helicopters
- KLM Helicopters
- Carson Helicopters
- Croman Corporation
- Los Angeles Airways
- New York Airways
- San Bernardino County, California Sherrif's Department
Former operators are marked by italics
[edit] Specifications (S-61N Mk II)
Data from International Directiory of Civil Aircraft[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots
- Capacity: up to 30 passengers
- Length: 58 ft 11 in (17.96 m)
- Rotor diameter: 62 ft (18.9 m)
- Height: 17 ft 6 in (5.32 m)
- Disc area: 3,019 ft² (280.6 m²)
- Empty weight: 12,336 lb (5,595 kg)
- Loaded weight: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 19,000 lb (8,620 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric CT58-140 turboshafts, 1,500 shp (1,120 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 166 mph (267 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 120 kn (222 km/h)
- Range: 450 NM (833 km)
- Service ceiling 12,500 ft (m)
- Rate of climb: 1,310-2,220 ft/min (400-670 m/min)
[edit] Accidents
- On August 14, 1968 Los Angeles Airways Flight 417 crashed Compton, California resulting in the loss of 21 lives. The accident aircraft, N300Y, serial number 61031, was the prototype of the Sikorsky S-61L. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 194. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
- ^ Sikorsky S-61N
- ^ "The Self-Supporting Helicopter" Time Magazine December 26, 1960
- ^ Aircraft Accident Report. Los Angeles Airways, Inc. S-61L Helicopter, N300Y, Compton, California, Adopted: August 27, 1969
[edit] External links
- Sikorsky S-61N on avia.russian.ee
- Canadian Coast Guard S-61N Characteristics page
- "Helipro Shortsky enters service" FlightGlobal
- S-61N Specs & Photo on flugzeuginfo.net
[edit] See also
Related development
Related lists
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