| H-19 Chickasaw |
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| Description |
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| Role | Multi-purpose helicopter |
| Crew | 2 (pilot, copilot) + 12 troops or 8 litters |
| Dimensions |
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| Length | 62 ft 7 in (overall)
42 ft 2 in (fuselage) | 19.1 m
12.85 m |
| Width (Fuselage) | | |
| Height | 13 ft 4 in | 4.07 m |
| Rotor diameter | 53 ft | 16.16 m |
| Weights |
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| Empty | 4,795 lb | 2,177 kg |
| Loaded | 7,200 lb | 3,266 kg |
| Maximum take-off | 7,900 lb | 3,587 kg |
| Powerplant |
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| Engines | 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-57 radial piston |
| Power | 600 hp | 450 kW |
| Performance |
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| Maximum speed | 101 mph | 163 km/h |
| Combat range | | |
| Ferry range | 405 mi | 652 km |
| Service ceiling | 10,500 ft | 3,200 m |
| Rate of climb | 700 ft/min | 213 m/min |
| Armament |
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| Guns | |
| Bombs | |
The H-19 Chickasaw (later UH-19, also widely known outside the US by its manufacturer's designation of S-55) was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army. It was also licensed to Westland Aircraft and manufactured as the Westland Whirlwind in the United Kingdom.
The H-19's first flight was on November 10, 1949 and it entered operations in 1950. Over 1,000 of the helicopters were manufactured by Sikorsky for the United States. An additional 550 were manufactured by licensees of the helicopter including Westland Aircraft, Sud-Est in France and Mitsubishi in Japan.
The helicopter was widely exported, used by many other nations, including Israel, Chile and Turkey.
Combat Experience
The H-19 underwent live service tests during the Korean War beginning in 1951. Undergoing tests such as medical evacuation, tactical control and front-line cargo support, the helicopter succeeded admirably in surpassing the capabilities of the H-5 Dragon Fly which had been used throughout the Korean conflict by the Army.
The H-19 was also used in the early days of the Vietnam War before being supplanted by the H-34 Choctaw, which was based on the H-19.
External link
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