mktbfavenger
~1/35 Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe - A relatively unknown and truly underrated workhorse for the last 60 years
Pt. 1/2
The “sky-crane” helicopter concept was born with the CH-37 Mojave in the 1950s. Sikorsky continued testing and development with the piston-engined S-60 prototype. While Sikorsky was beginning work on the S-64 in 1961, the sole S-60 prototype crashed.
Sikorsky’s and the Army’s investment in the S-64 program soon paid off. The program delivered an extremely versatile, efficient, and rugged rotorcraft; its first flight was on May 9, 1962. The military variant, the CH-54 Tarhe (meaning “The Crane”), was named after an 18th-century Native American chief while the civil variant kept the company designation S-64 and is referred to as the Skycrane. The Tarhe was deployed to Vietnam in 1965, performing a multitude of roles during throughout the conflict. The skycranes mainly delivered construction equipment and 155mm howitzers to hilltop firebases and frontline airfields. By 1967, there were 3 heavy helicopter companies (10 skycranes each) in service with the U.S. Army in Vietnam under the umbrella of the 1st Air Cav. During its 8 years of service in Southeast Asia, only one was shot down, but 8 were lost to operational causes. It was phased out of Army and National Guard service during the 70s and 80s, gradually being replaced by the CH-47 Chinook. 105 Tarhes were made (As, Bs, and pre-production models), and Erikson Aircrane still produces the S-64 to this day (31 have been made since the 90s).
General Specifications:
Crew - 3
Dimensions - length: 88.5 ft, height: 25ft 5in
Rotor - diameter: 72ft, area: ~4,000 sqft
Weight - ~19,000-20,000 lbs
Max Takeoff Weight - 47,000 lbs
Payload - 21,000 lbs
Powerplant - two Pratt & Whitney T73 turboshafts (4,500 hp each)
Max Speed - 130 kn (150 mph)
Range - 200 nmi (230 mi)
Rate of Climb - 1,330 ft/min (6.8 m/s)
The model:
Features - detailed cockpit with opening doors (easily accessible), working main winch, 4 external hooks, geared rotors, stowable blades, blade holders, cargo pod with technic motor and battery box for motorization (I’ll have to design some more cargo pods in Studio that actually have a detailed interior)
The stickers are from various Brickmania Huey sticker packs. I also based the main rotor design on the Brickmania CH-53E (which was derived from the Skycrane irl) main rotor. It’s generally the same technique, but I had to do some troubleshooting to get it down to 6 blades instead of 7.
~1/35 Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe - A relatively unknown and truly underrated workhorse for the last 60 years
Pt. 1/2
The “sky-crane” helicopter concept was born with the CH-37 Mojave in the 1950s. Sikorsky continued testing and development with the piston-engined S-60 prototype. While Sikorsky was beginning work on the S-64 in 1961, the sole S-60 prototype crashed.
Sikorsky’s and the Army’s investment in the S-64 program soon paid off. The program delivered an extremely versatile, efficient, and rugged rotorcraft; its first flight was on May 9, 1962. The military variant, the CH-54 Tarhe (meaning “The Crane”), was named after an 18th-century Native American chief while the civil variant kept the company designation S-64 and is referred to as the Skycrane. The Tarhe was deployed to Vietnam in 1965, performing a multitude of roles during throughout the conflict. The skycranes mainly delivered construction equipment and 155mm howitzers to hilltop firebases and frontline airfields. By 1967, there were 3 heavy helicopter companies (10 skycranes each) in service with the U.S. Army in Vietnam under the umbrella of the 1st Air Cav. During its 8 years of service in Southeast Asia, only one was shot down, but 8 were lost to operational causes. It was phased out of Army and National Guard service during the 70s and 80s, gradually being replaced by the CH-47 Chinook. 105 Tarhes were made (As, Bs, and pre-production models), and Erikson Aircrane still produces the S-64 to this day (31 have been made since the 90s).
General Specifications:
Crew - 3
Dimensions - length: 88.5 ft, height: 25ft 5in
Rotor - diameter: 72ft, area: ~4,000 sqft
Weight - ~19,000-20,000 lbs
Max Takeoff Weight - 47,000 lbs
Payload - 21,000 lbs
Powerplant - two Pratt & Whitney T73 turboshafts (4,500 hp each)
Max Speed - 130 kn (150 mph)
Range - 200 nmi (230 mi)
Rate of Climb - 1,330 ft/min (6.8 m/s)
The model:
Features - detailed cockpit with opening doors (easily accessible), working main winch, 4 external hooks, geared rotors, stowable blades, blade holders, cargo pod with technic motor and battery box for motorization (I’ll have to design some more cargo pods in Studio that actually have a detailed interior)
The stickers are from various Brickmania Huey sticker packs. I also based the main rotor design on the Brickmania CH-53E (which was derived from the Skycrane irl) main rotor. It’s generally the same technique, but I had to do some troubleshooting to get it down to 6 blades instead of 7.