Aircraft History

HH-3 Jolly Green Giant

The Sikorsky S-61R differs significantly in a number of ways from the original S-61, in that it has a more capacious boat-type hull, modified to take a rear loading ramp, while the two sponsons have been replaced by two stub wings set farther back, into which the rear members of the tricycle landing gear retract.
 

The prototype was built by the company as a private venture and flown with a civil registration on 17 June 1963. However, the USAF had already placed an order with Sikorsky in February of that year for 22 aircraft, designated CH-3C, and they began to receive the first helicopters at the end of 1963. Subsequent orders brought the total number for the USAF to 133.
 

The CH-3C was used in the Vietnam War for rescuing pilots who had been shot down and came to be nicknamed the "Jolly Green Giant"; it was given more powerful turbines from February 1965 and redesignated CH-3E. The uprated "Green Giant" could carry 26 troops or 15 wounded, or vehicles of equivalent weight, and could also be armed with two Emerson turrets on the leading edges of the two stub wings. Forty-two CH-3Es were built, in addition to which 41 CH-3Cs were modified to this standard. The USAF also asked for specific modifications to be made to this helicopter to meet the demands of the Vietnam War: application of armour; use of supplementary fuel tanks for extended flights; self-sealing internal fuel tanks and a telescopic in-flight refuelling probe. Two of the first aircraft of the 50 to be built in the HH-3E rescue version became famous in 1967 by flying non-stop from New York to Paris (for the Air Show), covering the 6870km journey with nine refuellings by airtankers.
 

In August 1965, the US Coast Guard ordered a special version of the HH-3 which was given the designation HH-3F Pelican. This paramilitary American rescue service needed an aircraft with all-weather capability, which could safely land on water, and the HH-3F was the ideal solution. The Pelican was virtually identical to the HH-3E, apart from the lack of protection, armament and other military equipment. It had an AN/APN-195 search radar on the port side of the nose. The US Coast Guard received 40 HH-3Fs. The only foreign license-holder for this variant was Agusta, who began producing it in 1974. The 22 aircraft built by Agusta were all delivered to the Italian Air Force as replacements for the old, amphibious Grumman Albatross used for search and rescue missions at sea.

G.Apostolo "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters", 1984

 

 

Technical data for Sikorsky CH-3C:

Engine: 2 x General Electric T58-GE-1 turboshaft, rated at 969kW
Main rotor diameter: 18.90m
Fuselage length: 17.45m, height: 5.51m
Take-off weight:9750kg
Max speed: 261km/h, cruising speed: 232km/h
Hovering ceiling, OGE:2600m
Range with max fuel: 748km
Payload: 3630kg

Russian T-50

Russian "Fifth Generation" Fighter T-50

First off I would like to congratulate Frank Szemere for knowing that the "Mystery Item" in last month's on-line Flight Line Flyer was the escape capsule from a B-58 Hustler.  Congrats Frank!  And if you guys would like to see a great video on the B-58, narrated by James Stewart...who actually flew this awesome beast...check out:  http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/main.html

Now for the T-50 facts...as we know them now.

"Russia has reportedly successfully test-flown its first fifth generation fighter jet prototype. Formally known as the Prospective Aircraft Complex of Frontline Aviation (PAK-FA), the craft made its 47 minute maiden voyage on 29th January. Manufactured by the Russian state owned Sukhoi Aircraft Corporation, the development of this tactical frontline stealth fighter jet is being seen as a significant milestone in the efforts of the country to modernize its post Soviet–era military technology.

Taking place at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur facility in Siberia, the demonstration of the Sukoi T-50 prototype was the first time since the break up of the Soviet Union that a fighter jet has been completely designed and built by Russian companies. While fourth–generation fighters typically feature multi–role capabilities, fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) incorporate stealth technology, supercruise, thrust–vectoring and integrated avionics.

As well as the stealth technology designed to eradicate a plane’s radar signature, the 5,500km-range T-50 PAK-FA features an advanced avionics suite, multi-spectral reconnaissance and surveillance systems and several automatic controls. The twin-engine unit is all weather capable, with the ability to take off on a strip around 400 meters in length as well as the capacity for sustained supersonic flight and repeated in-flight refueling. The new fighter jet is equipped with high-precision air-to-air, air-to-surface and air-to-ship missiles, with two 30mm canons enabling simultaneous attacks on air and ground targets.

India and Russia have agreed to co-develop the T-50 PAK-FA fighter and share the estimated US$8-10 billion development costs. Mikhail Pogosyan, Director of Sukhoi said of the project that he was “strongly convinced it would excel its Western rivals in cost-effectiveness and will not only allow strengthening of the defence power of the Russian and Indian air forces, but also gain a significant share of the world market".

The unveiling of the fifth generation fighter jet is being seen my many as a milestone for Russia in its bid to boost its ageing weaponry, with the country keen to demonstrate that they have the military technology available to rival that of the West. However some critics are stating the T-50 PAK-FA craft displayed is merely a “fourth generation jet fighter with fifth generation characteristics”.

Sukhoi has developed the aircraft to rival the American F-22 Raptor, currently the only other fifth generation jet fighter in operation in the world (another, the F-35 Lightning II is currently being developed primarily by the US and Britain). With units projected to cost upwards of US$140 million each to produce, Russia is hoping to begin serial production of the T-50 PAK-FA in 2015.