Sikorsky S-55 & Westland Whirlwind

In the same way as other Sikorsky helicopters, the S-55 began as a military helicopter for the US military that was later adjusted for business administration.

Sikorsky created the S-55 in light of a US military prerequisite for a substantial universally useful helicopter. The US Defense Department granted Sikorsky an agreement to create such a helicopter in 1948, and the first model flew shockingly on November 10 1949. The S-55 saw boundless US military administration as H-19 buzzing around Force, as H-19 Chickasaw in the Army, as Ho4s in the Navy and Coast Guard, and as HRS in the Marine Corps. Common accreditation for the business S-55 arrangement was initially granted on March 25 1952.

The beginning common variation was the S-55, controlled by a 450kw (600hp) Pratt & Whitney Wasp outspread cylinder motor. Later common variations incorporate the S-55a which presented a 520kw (700hp) Wright R-1300 outspread cylinder motor, while the S-55c had a P&w R-1340 motor and the repositioned tail blast of the S-55a.

Westland in the UK permit manufactured 400 S-55s as the WS-55 Whirlwind for the most part military additionally business utilization. Early Whirlwinds were like the S-55 put something aside for their Alvis Leonides spiral motor, later improvements were controlled by a 785kw (1050shp) Rolls-Royce Bristol Gnome H.1000 turboshaft. S-55 permit production was likewise attempted in Japan by Mitsubishi and in France by Sud-Est.

In January 1971 Aviation Specialties was recompensed a sort declaration for its turbine controlled transformation of the S-55, named the S-55t. Flying Specialties structured the Helitec Corp to market and believer airplane, and pretty nearly 40 were fitted with a Garrett Airesearch Tse331 turboshaft. The transformation diminished the S-55's void weight by more or less 410kg (900lb).

In 1993 VAT (Vertical Aviation Technologies Inc) began the improvement of a super tranquil transformation of the S-55, the S-55qt Whisper Jet. Full accreditation was honored in December 1999. The 3-bladed fundamental rotor of the standard S-55 was supplanted by a 5-bladed one, and the powerplant is an Allied Signal TSE 331-10 turbine motor. It is affirmed at a MTOW of 3492kg (7700lb). As the S-55qt was extraordinarily created for touring, an extra left side lodge entryway, focus floor window, and bigger lodge windows were fitted, and touring enhanced frameworks and gear were included. The principal client for the Whisper Jet was Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters.