Aircraft Model / Manufacturer :

Sikorsky YH-5A

Description:

The H-5 was designed to provide a helicopter having greater useful load, endurance, speed, and service ceiling than the Sikorsky R-4. It differed from the R-4 in having a new, longer fuselage for two in tandem[3] and a much greater rotor diameter.[4] The first XR-5 of four ordered made its initial flight on August 18, 1943. In March 1944, the United States Army Air Force ordered 26 YR-5As for service testing, and in February 1945, the first YR-5A was delivered. This order was followed by a production contract for 100, outfitted with racks for two litters (stretchers); only 34 were actually delivered.