Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe

CH-54 Tarhe
A CH-54A carrying a "Daisy Cutter" parachute bomb
Role	Heavy-lift cargo helicopter Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight	9 May 1962
Retired	1970s (US Army) 1993 (National Guard)[1]
Status	Retired
Primary user	United States Army
Number built	105
Variants	S-64 Skycrane

The Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe is an American twin-engine heavy-lift helicopter designed by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Army. It is named after Tarhe, an 18th-century chief of the Wyandot Indian tribe whose nickname was "The Crane".^[2] The civilian version is the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane.

Development

Work on what would become the CH-54 can be traced back to Sikorsky's earlier activities with "sky-crane"

Early on, the type had demonstrated itself to possess unrivalled performance in some aspects. As of 2014[update], it continues to hold the helicopter record for highest altitude in level flight at 11,000 m (36,000 ft), which it set in 1971,^[5] as well at the fastest climb to 3,000,^[6] 6,000,^[7] and 9,000^[8] m (10,000, 20,000, and 30,000 ft). On 20 April 1965, a CH-54A equipped with a people pod lifted 90 people, comprising its crew of three and 87 combat-equipped troops; this was the largest number of people to be lifted by a single helicopter at that time.^[1]

Operational history

The United States Army would ultimately procure 105 examples, which it operated under the designation of CH-54 Tarhe. It was most prolifically used during the Vietnam War, typically to provide logistical support and heavy transport activities in aid of American ground troops. In the theater, CH-54s would routinely be used to reposition artillery pieces such as the M101 howitzer, and even airlift bulky payloads such as bulldozers and patrol boats.^[9][10] In terms of retrieved aircraft alone, in excess of 380 were reportedly recovered via CH-54, resulting in the saving of several hundred million dollars.^[1][3]

In particular, those forces operating in and around the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North Vietnam and South Vietnam were unable to rely on ground supply routes due to the unavoidable challenges posed by the local geography; instead, they were almost entirely dependent on air support provided by rotorcraft such as the CH-54.^[11] The type would operate so close to the frontlines that several would come under fire from the North Vietnamese.^[12][13] One unusual use of the type came under the Combat Trap programme, which saw it drop 10,000 lb bombs, intended for clearing landing zones.^[1] One danger that its crews had to maintain awareness of was the strong downwash generated by the rotors; nearby tents were particularly at risk of being blown away.^[14]

As a heavy transport helicopter, capable of retrieving numerous types of downed aircraft, it proved to be highly successful. The Tarhe can hold its cargo up and tight against its center spine to lessen drag and eliminate the pendulum effect when flying forward, as well as winch vehicles up and down from a hovering position, so the helicopter can deploy loads while hovering. Due to budget cuts, the Heavy Lift Helicopter (HLH) program was canceled and the CH-54 was not upgraded with larger engines. The relatively small fleet proved costly to maintain, thus the tandem-rotor Boeing CH-47 Chinook, a rival heavy lift helicopter, gradually supplemented the CH-54 for most transport duties, eventually replacing it in Regular Army aviation units during the 1980s. Another heavy lift helicopter, the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion, had also been developed using many of the proven systems of the CH-54, including its engine, fuselage, and dynamic systems.^[15]

The CH-54 was also operated by the

YCH-54A

Preproduction aircraft, six built.^[17]

CH-54A

Production model powered by two 4,500 shp (3,400 kW) Pratt & Whitney T73-P-1 turboshafts, 54 built.^[17]

CH-54B

Heavier version of the CH-54A with two 4,800 shp (3,600 kW) T73-P-700 turboshafts and twin-wheeled main undercarriage, 37 ordered, 29 built.^[18][1]

S-64B

In 1968, Sikorsky proposed a three-engined growth version with upgraded rotor and gearbox. This was not proceeded with but did form the basis for the

CH-53E Super Stallion.^[19]

 United States

• NASA^[20][21]
• United States Army^[22]
  • 478th Aviation Company
  • 2nd Battalion, 291st Aviation Company
• United States Army Reserve^[23]
• Army National Guard
  • Company D, 113th Aviation, 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada ARNG 1986–1993 (received CH-54A^[23])^[24]
  • 1160 Aviation Company, Georgia ARNG (received CH-54A^[23])
  • 137th Transportation Company (Heavy Helicopter), Kansas ARNG (received CH-54A^[23])
  • Company E, 185th Aviation Brigade, Mississippi ARNG (received CH-54A^[23])
  • Pennsylvania (received CH-54A^[23])
  • Alaska (received CH-54B^[23])
  • Alabama (received CH-54B^[23])
  • Connecticut (received CH-54B^[23])

Surviving aircraft

A large number of surviving airframes exist in flyable condition as well as in museum collections worldwide.

Specifications (CH-54B)

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Capacity: 25,000 lb (11,340 kg) payload
• Length: 88 ft 6 in (26.97 m)
• Height: 25 ft 5 in (7.75 m)
• Empty weight: 19,800 lb (8,981 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 47,000 lb (21,319 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney T73-P-700 turboshaft engines, 4,800 shp (3,600 kW) each
• Main rotor diameter: 72 ft 0 in (21.95 m)
• Main rotor area: 4,071.5 sq ft (378.25 m²) * Blade section: – NACA 0011 mod^[25]

Performance

• Maximum speed: 130 kn (150 mph, 240 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 100 kn (120 mph, 190 km/h)
• Range: 200 nmi (230 mi, 370 km)
• Rate of climb: 1,330 ft/min (6.8 m/s)

See also

• Aerial crane
• BLU-82

Related development

• Sikorsky S-60
• Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane
• Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Boeing CH-47 Chinook
• Boeing Vertol XCH-62
• Mil Mi-10

Related lists

• List of rotorcraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Boyne, Walter (2011). How the Helicopter Changed Modern Warfare. Pelican Publishing.
  ISBN 978-1-45561-568-1
  .
• Francillon, René J. (Spring 1991). "The Army Guard's Weightlifter". World Air Power Journal. 5: 36–41.
• Harding, Stephen (1990). U.S. Army Aircraft since 1947. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife.
  ISBN 1-85310-102-8
  .
• Taylor, John W. R. (1976). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976–77. London, UK: Jane's Yearbooks.
  ISBN 0-354-00538-3
  .
• Sikorsky, Sergei I. (2007). The Sikorsky Legacy. Arcadia Publishing.
  ISBN 978-0-738-54995-8
  .
• Tucker, Spencer C. (2011). The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War. ABC-CLIO.
  ISBN 978-1-851-09961-0
  .
• Wiest, Andrew; McNab, Chris (2015). The Illustrated History of the Vietnam War. Amber Books.
  ISBN 978-1-782-74288-3
  .
• Wise, E. Tayloe (2010). Eleven Bravo: A Skytrooper's Memoir of War in Vietnam. McFarland.
  ISBN 978-0-78648-223-8
  .

Wikimedia Commons has media related to CH-54 Tarhe (Skycrane).

• CH-54 U.S. Army Aviation history fact sheet
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-2A (1966) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-21A (1966) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
• HELIS.com Sikorsky S-64/CH-54 Database