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Aviation History
1958
1958 - 0762.PDF
778 FLIGHT, 6 June 1958 The S-62 shows off its flying-boat hull. Turbine- powered, it carries 700 Ib more useful load than the 5-55 and cruises 20 m.p.h. faster. S-62 Sikorsky's Amphibious Helicopter A NEW turbine-powered 8-12 passengerhelicopter, the S-62, has just made itsdebut at Sikorsky's Stratford, Connecti- cut, plant. It is the world's first amphibioushelicopter to embody a flying-boat hull. In the past, helicopters intended for water operationshave been fitted—at considerable penalties in weight and drag—with pontoons: likewise,single-engined helicopters intended for pas- senger operations over built-up areas have—in the absence of a second engine—been required to fit pontoons for emergency landingson water. In this role pontoons represent, in effect, a second engine: the S-62, thoughsingle-engined (G.E. T58 or Lycoming T53), was designed from the outset as a helicoptercapable of water operations with the minimum built-in penalties of weight and drag. The vee-bottom of the fuselage is designed to cushion impactswhen landing on water and to throw spray outwards and down. For land operation, wheels are mounted under two floats. Locatedforward and well away from the fuselage, the floats resist pitching and rolling during landings or while at rest on the water. ^owerplant of the first model is General Electric's 900 s.h.p.T58 (the turbine which is being licence-built in the U.K. by de Havilland, who have designated it the Gnome). Alternativepowerplant is Lycoming's T53. Delivery of the S-62 could be made in 1959, "contingent," say Sikorsky, "on the availability ofengines at an acceptable price and with proven dependability." The S-62's relationship to the S-55 is important. Sikorsky'sclaim is as follows: "The S-62 is the first helicopter in history that will fly from the start with proven mechanical componentshaving extended overhaul periods of four to five times longer than normally expected of new components. This has been accom-plished by blending a new airframe and a modern gas turbine powerplant with the mechanical components of the time-testedSikorsky S-55 helicopter." Actual S-55 components incorporated in the S-62 include allmain and tail rotor heads and blades; main, intermediate and tail gearboxes; shafting, tail rotor pylons, and major portions offlight control and hydraulic systems. This makes possible Sikorsky's offer to S-55 operators to turn in their machines for"retrofits," which comprise the installation of all these S-55 com- ponents in a new S-62 airframe, together with the new T58 orT53 turbine engine. Various items of special equipment can be installed in the S-62.This equipment includes a 600-lb-capacity rescue hoist, an external cargo sling capable of carrying 3,000 lb, internal ferry tanks, anadaptation of the S-55 winterization kit tested at minus 65 deg, pilot and co-pilot oxygen provisions, and a towing attachmentto provide 4,000 lb of pull for such work as removing damaged aircraft from runways or assisting ground equipment which mayhave become bogged or disabled. The towing attachment is intended for water rescue work, where disabled boats of manysizes have to be towed to safety, and in amphibious military operations when landing craft break down well out from shore. In addition, the all-metal, interchangeable blades for the main rotor—as first introduced by Sikorsky—will be standard equip- ment on the new aircraft. S-62 Preliminary Technical Data Amphibious Version Powered by G.C. T58-GE-6 Performance: High speed at sea level, 117 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 98 m.p.h.;maximum rate of climb at sea level, 1,160ft-min; hovering ceiling without ground effect, 8,000ft; service ceiling, 15,700ft; fuel consumption (cruising),52.5 Imp. gal/hr; range (with 152 gal fuel plus ten per cent reserve at cruising speed), 230 st.m. Weights: Gross weight, 7,500 Ib; useful load, 2,950 Ib; weight empty, withstandard equipment, 4,550 Ib. Dimensions: Fuselage length, 44ft 7in; fuselage width, 5ft lOin; heightoverall, 14ft 2in; main rotor diameter (blade tip circle), 53ft; tail rotor diameter (blade tip circle), 8ft 9in; main landing gear tread, lift; passengercabin length, 14ft; passenger cabin width, 5ft 4in; passenger cabin depth, 6ft; fuel capacity, 152 Imp. gal. Lightness of the T58 turbine permits it to be installed on top of the fuselage, well clear of spray. Right, the S-62 lands on the Housatonic River near Sikorsky's plant. Accommodation is for eight passengers or 12 troops.
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