Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard

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HH-52 Seaguard
A U.S. Coast Guard HH-52A Seaguard helicopter
Role	SAR/utility helicopter
Manufacturer	Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight	22 May 1958
Introduction	1961
Primary user	United States Coast Guard
Number built	175

The Sikorsky HH-52 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 The HH-52 has been replaced by non-amphibious types such as the HH-65 Dolphin, which rely solely on the use of a winch from a low hover to conduct rescue operations.

Design and development[]

U.S. Coast Guard HH-52A floating in Seattle in 1979

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 1,250 hp (930 kW) General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshaft engine, a derated version of the T58-GE-10 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 22 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 Sikorsky S-58.

S-62C

Company designation of the HH-52A Seaguard.

S-62J

Produced under license in Japan by Mitsubishi.^[1]

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 1 transferred to Iceland.

Operators[]

Military[]

A S-62 Prototype, in Le Bourget Airport, June 1959.

 Japan

• Japan Air Self Defense Force^[2][3]
• Japan Maritime Self Defense Force^[2]

 Philippines

• Philippine Air Force^[4][5]

Civilian[]

 Iceland

• Icelandic Coast Guard^[6]

 Japan

A Coast Guard Grumman HU-16 Albatross and a Sikorsky HH-52A in March, 1964

• Japan Coast Guard^[7]

 Qatar

• Gulf Helicopters^[8]

 Thailand

• Royal Thai Police^[9]

 United States

• United States Coast Guard^[10]
• SFO Helicopter Airlines^[11][12]

Surviving aircraft[]

HH-52A Seaguard 'USCG1355' at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola FL

Cockpit of HH-52A Seaguard 'USCG1355' at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola FL

Japan[]

• 53-4774 - S-62J on static display at Hamamatsu Air Park, Hamamatsu AB, Shizuoka

United States[]

An HH-52 Seaguard on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

• USCG 1355 – HH-52A on static display at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida.^[13][14]
• USCG 1357 – At Dillingham Airfield in Mokulēia, Hawaii.^{[citation needed]}
• USCG 1370 – HH-52A on static display at Freedom Park in Omaha, Nebraska.^[15]
• USCG 1375 – HH-52A in storage at Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.^[16][17]
• USCG 1378 – HH-52A on static display at the Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.^[18]
• USCG 1383 – HH-52A on static display at the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center in West Chester, Pennsylvania.^[19][20]
• USCG 1384 – On static display at CGAS Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.^{[citation needed]}
• USCG 1389 – At Delgado Community College in New Orleans, Louisiana.^{[citation needed]}
• USCG 1394 – HH-52A on display at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania.^[21]
• USCG 1395 – HH-52A on static display at the Classic Rotors Museum in Ramona, California.^[22]
• USCG 1398 – HH-52A in storage at CGAS Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It was previously located at Black River Technical College in Pocahontas, Arkansas.^[23]
• USCG 1397 – At Amarillo College in Amarillo, Texas.^{[citation needed]}
• USCG 1415 – HH-52A on static display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.^[24]
• USCG 1416 – HH-52A at Broward College in Pembroke Pines, Florida.^[25]
• USCG 1423 – HH-52A cockpit section only on static display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida.^[26]
• USCG 1426 – HH-52A on static display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. It was restored by the Coast Guard Aviation Association and went on display on April 14, 2016.^{[27][28][29][30]}
• USCG 1428 – HH-52A on static display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.^[31]
• USCG 1429 – HH-52A on static display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York, New York.^[32][33]
• USCG 1450 – HH-52A on static display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona^[34]
• USCG 1455 – HH-52A on static display at the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey in Teterboro, New Jersey.^[35]
• USCG 1459 – HH-52A in storage at the Naval Air Station Glenview Museum in Glenview, Illinois. It was previously on display at the Museum of Science and Industry.^[36][37]
• USCG 1462 – HH-52A on static display at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum in Erma, New Jersey.^[38][39]
• USCG 1466 – HH-52A on static display at the Selfridge Military Air Museum at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mount Clemens, Michigan.^[40][41]

Philippines[]

• 62018 – On static display at the Philippine Air Force Museum in Pasay, Manila.^[42]

South Africa[]

• 62-062 – S-62A on static display in Strand, Western Cape. It has been painted to resemble SH-3 bureau number 150142.^[43]

Thailand[]

• On static display at the Thai Police Aviation Division operations base in Bangkok, Thailand.

Specifications (HH-52A)[]

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969–70^[44]

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Capacity: 3,127 lb (1,418 kg) payload^[45]
• Length: 44 ft 6.5 in (13.576 m)
• Height: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
• Empty weight: 5,083 lb (2,306 kg) ^[45]
• Max takeoff weight: 8,300 lb (3,765 kg) ^[45]
• Powerplant: 1 × General Electric T58-GE-8 turboshaft engine, 730 shp (540 kW)
  

de-rated from 1,250 shp (932 kW)

• Main rotor diameter: 53 ft (16 m)
• Main rotor area: 2,206 sq ft (204.9 m²)
  
• Blade section: - NACA 0012^[46]

Performance

• Maximum speed: 95 kn (109 mph, 176 km/h) at sea level
• Cruise speed: 85 kn (98 mph, 157 km/h)
• Range: 412 nmi (474 mi, 763 km)
• Service ceiling: 11,200 ft (3,400 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,080 ft/min (5.5 m/s)

See also[]

Related development

• Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
• Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican
• Sikorsky S-55

Related lists

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

References[]

Notes[]

Bibliography[]

• Endres, Günter G. World Airline Fleets 1979. Hounslow, UK: Airline Publications and Sales Ltd., 1979, ISBN 0-905117-53-0.
• Taylor, John W. R.. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969–70. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1969.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sikorsky S-62.

• The Last Flying Lifeboat on MAAM.org
• Naval Air Station Glenview Museum
• US Naval Air Station Wildwood Museum
• HELIS.com Sikorsky S-62/HH-52 Database