Jump to content

Sikorsky XH-39: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Cydebot (talk | contribs)
m Robot - Moving category United States military utility aircraft 1950-1959 to Category:United States military utility aircraft 1950–1959 per CFD at Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2011 September 20.
Line 136: Line 136:
[[Category:United States military utility aircraft 1950–1959]]
[[Category:United States military utility aircraft 1950–1959]]
[[Category:Sikorsky aircraft|XH-39]]
[[Category:Sikorsky aircraft|XH-39]]
[[Category:United States helicopters 1950–1959]]


[[it:Sikorsky S-59]]
[[it:Sikorsky S-59]]

Revision as of 16:55, 7 October 2011

XH-39 (S-59)
Role Helicopter
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft
Introduction not produced
Primary user United States Army
Number built 1[1]
Developed from Sikorsky S-52

The Sikorsky XH-39 (manufacturer designation S-59), developed by Sikorsky Aircraft in 1954, was the U.S. Army’s first turbine-powered helicopter. It was fast and innovative, but ultimately rejected by the United States Army in favor of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois.

Design and development

The four-seat XH-39 was powered by one Continental CAE XT51-T-3 400 shp (298 kW) turboshaft engine, a license-built development of the Turbomeca Artouste. It was developed from a previous Sikorsky model, the H-18 (company model S-52), and had the same layout. It differed in using retractable tricycle landing gear, modified tail rotor, and four-blade main rotor.[2] In the end, the U.S. Army selected the Bell XH-40, prototype of the UH-1 Huey. Two YH-18As were modified into XH-39s; one for flight testing and the other for static test.

On August 26, 1954, the S-59 set a world helicopter speed record of 155.9 mph (251 km/h). The same year, it set a world helicopter altitude record of 24,500 ft (7,474 m).

Variants

XH-39
Former YH-18A modified for static testing, not flown and later modified back to YH-18A standard.
XH-39A
Former YH-18A modified for flight testing.

Specifications (XH-39)

Data from U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947 [3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Four

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ^ Polmar and Kennedy, p.288
  2. ^ Polmar and Kennedy, p.288
  3. ^ Harding 1990, p.233.

Bibliography

  • Harding, Stephen. U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Shrewsbury, England: Airlife, 1990. ISBN 1-85310-102-8.
  • Polmar, Norman, and Kennedy, Floyd D., Jr. Military Helicopters of the World. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1981. ISBN 0-870321-383-0.

External links