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It should be noted that in the course of 1961, WF was incorporated into Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke GmbH (VFW) along with Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau, in which the UAC also had financial interests. With regards to this issue, NATO held a tender and the S-64 project was declared the winner.įor this reason from the beginning of 1959, thanks to an agreement with the Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a group of about twelve German technicians employed by the Weser Flugzeugbau (WF), participated in the design and development of the new helicopter. However, this meant that there was a need to frequently supply such improvised bases with fuel, ammunition and equipment. This kind of aircraft could in fact be used from remote or hidden places. In Germany, where the NATO airbases were vulnerable to a sudden Soviel attack, some VTOL jet aircraft were also being developed. In the event of an attack, both in the past as well as now, airports are in fact among the main targets to be destroyed in order to prevent runways being used by the enemy. The management of the company formally approved the start of the design work in September 1959.ĭuring the ‘50s and ‘60s (in the Cold War period) several Nations all over the world designed and developed VTOL/STOL aircraft. Overall the Sikorsky S-60 proved to be a good aircraft and it was right on the heels of this success that even before the accident the design office had the idea of creating a new version designated as S-64. It is interesting to note that this helicopter is currently being under reconstruction and those with an interest in this issue may follow the work carried out via the "Sikorsky S-60 restoration" facebook page. The helicopter was capable of lifting external loadsof up to nearly 6 tons.Īfter completing 335 hours of test flight on Apduring a control flight aimed at checking the sensitivity of controls at low speeds, the S-60 was seriously damaged in an accident which occurred near the Sikorsky plant.
#How much weight can a sky crane lift series#
In the following two years the S-60 made a long series of test flights and demonstrations. The prototype registered N807 made its first test flight on March 25, 1959. The S-60 was built using the dynamic components of the S-56 including the two piston engines Pratt & Whitney R-2800 18 cylinders double wasp each developing power of up to 1'566/2'100 kW/hp. Then from the design, construction and development phase of the prototype began. To study the structure conveniently Sikorsky initially built a 1:1 mock-up of the helicopter. A characteristic feature of the S-60 was an automatic stabilization system enabling it to hover with precision. For this reason the co-pilot station could pivot. With such unusual solution the pilot would have an unobstructed visual, allowing him to observe the entire operation of picking up or delivering cargos. To save weight, cost and maintenance the new helicopter had a simple “stick” structure carrying the mechanical systems with the cockpit suspended below. A particularity introduced on this model was the the aft-facing co-pilot station. Following such sketches the concept of the aerial crane was increasingly elaborated and finally brought to the Management of United Aircraft Corporation, who approved company- funding for the design and manufacture of an experimental helicopter designated Sikorsky S-60. Sikorsky’s basic idea was to develop a helicopter uniquely designed to carry all loads externally. It was in fact able to carry 26 equipped soldiers and was built in about 150 units. In the early ‘50s Sikorsky began the construction in series of the model S-56, a large twin-engine helicopter developed on behalf of the Marines (military designation H-37 Mojave) mainly used as an assault and troop transport aircraft. The following shall aim at describing the actual facts in the correct order to avoid confusion.
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Sikorsky also appears in the list of the pioneers.Īlready in 1955 Igor Sikorsky had spoken publicly about his interest in the development of an "aerial crane." Following his father’s instructions in 1957 his son Sergei made a sketch of a helicopter which was generally very similar to the S-64 Sky Crane. After the appearance ot the XH-17 several other manufacturers including Aircraft Omega (Omega BS-12 1956), Mc Donnell (Model 120 1957), Westland (Westland Westminster 1958), or Mil (Mil MI-10 1960), began to show their interest in the concept of the "aerial crane".