Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard

The Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard (Company designation S-62) was a single turbine engine, three-blade rotor amphibious helicopter. Originally developed as a commercial venture by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of Stratford, Connecticut, it was used by the United States Coast Guard primarily for air-sea rescue. The HH-52 has been replaced by non-amphibious types such as the HH-65 Dolphin which rely on using a winch to retrieve passengers from a hover.

Design and development


A number of S-62s were bought by the US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics for the US Coast Guard for use as a search and rescue helicopter. Initially designated HU2S-1G Seaguard, it was re-designated as the HH-52A Seaguard in 1962.

The HH-52A used a boat hulled shaped fuselage, smaller but similar to the US Navy's SH-3 (Sikorsky S-61), and was employed aboard the larger Coast Guard cutters and icebreakers. The S-62 used a single 1250 hp General Electric T58-GE-8 turboshaft engine, the same powerplant used on the larger twin-engined SH-3; and a 1,050 hp T58-GE-6 derated to 670 hp, moving the same main and tail rotor as S-55 Model, in the prototype.

The turbine powered S-62 could carry more weight and fly faster than the H-19 (S-55). The aircraft was first conceived and designed to be amphibious so that flotation gear would not be required for over water flights, and rescues could be made by landing on the water. The fuselage is watertight for landings on water or snow. Two outrigger floats resist pitching and rolling on the water. Although the HH-52A looks very different from the Sikorsky H-19, it used many of the same components.

Variants



 * S-62
 * Prototype. First flew on the 22nd of May 1958.


 * S-62A
 * Amphibious transport helicopter, powered by a General Electric CT58-110-1 turboshaft engine, with accommodation for up to 11 passengers. The S-62A was the first production version.


 * S-62B
 * One S-62 was fitted with the main rotor system of the S-58.


 * S-62C
 * Company designation of the HH-52A Seaguard.


 * S-62J
 * Produced under license in Japan by Mitsubishi.


 * HU2S-1G
 * Original designation of the HH-52A Seaguard. Redesignated HH-52A in 1962.


 * HH-52A Seaguard
 * Search and rescue helicopter for the United States Coast Guard. 99 built including one transferred to Iceland.

Operators

 * Icelandic Coast Guard
 * Japan Air Self Defense Force
 * Japan Maritime Self Defense Force
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 * Philippine Air Force
 * Royal Thai Police
 * United States Coast Guard
 * SFO Helicopter Airlines
 * Royal Thai Police
 * United States Coast Guard
 * SFO Helicopter Airlines
 * SFO Helicopter Airlines

United States

 * N880
 * S-62 prototype, cn 62001, YoM 1958, ff 22-5-1958 - still in current FAA Register at March 31, 2011 to CARSON SERVICES Inc., Perkasie (PENNS.).


 * USCG 1355
 * On display at the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, Florida


 * USCG 1357
 * Dillingham Airport, HI


 * USCG 1370
 * On display at Freedom Park in Omaha, Nebraska


 * USCG 1378
 * At the USS Alabama (BB-60) Museum in Mobile, Alabama


 * USCG 1383
 * American Helicopter Museum & Education Center, Westchester, PA


 * USCG 1384
 * Gate guard at CGAS Elizabeth City, NC


 * USCG 1389
 * Delgado Community College, New Orleans LA


 * USCG 1394
 * Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, Reading PA


 * USCG 1398
 * In a mechanics school in Pocahantas AR


 * USCG 1397
 * Amarillo College, FAR Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School, Amarillo, TX


 * USCG 1415
 * Museum of Flight (Seattle) Restoration Facility, Everett, WA


 * USCG 1416
 * Broward College Aviation school - North Perry Airport, Pembroke Pines, FL


 * USCG 1423
 * Cockpit section only at National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Florida


 * USCG 1428
 * On display at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, CT


 * USCG 1429
 * Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum - New York City


 * USCG 1450
 * On display at the Pima Air & Space Museum adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona


 * USCG 1455
 * On display at the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey, Teterboro, NJ


 * USCG 1459
 * Sister to USCG 1394 above, both retired from the now closed USCG Air Station Chicago at NAS Glenview.
 * Was on display at the Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago), now is at the Naval Air Station Glenview Museum.


 * USCG 1462
 * On display at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, Cape May County, NJ

Philippines

 * 62018 (cn M62002)
 * On display at the Philippine Air Force Museum, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Pasay City