FLIGHTLINE: 101

[Skyfire77]

FLIGHTLINE: 101
The Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe, aka the S-64 Skycrane, is a heavy lift helicopter formerly used by the US Army and notable for its skeletal frame.

>A CH54B "Tarhe" carries an M551 Sheridan light tank at the US Army Redstone Arsenal. | Photo: US Army

Beginning in 1958, the Sikorsky company began design work on a flying crane to transport outsized or awkwardly shaped cargo into areas normal transport cannot reach. The Sikorsky S-60 was based on the CH-37/S-56, but the majority of the fuselage was removed to save weight.

>The S-60 during a demonstration for the USMC in 1959. | Photo: US Marine Corps

>The S-60 delivering a damaged HSS-1 Seabat (SH-34) to NAS Quonset Point in 1960. | Photo: US Navy

The S-60 proved to adept at moving large loads, but was underpowered, and Sikorsky began designing a follow-on helicopter powered by turboshafts to increase the available power. The S-64 Skycrane first flew in 1962, powered by two P&W JFTD12A turboshaft engines, each providing 4,000shp. Demonstrated for the West German Army, the Skycrane was eventually bought by the US Army, which designated it as the CH-54, and per Army custom was give the nickname 'Tarhe', a chief of the Wyandot Indian tribe in the 18th century. Six preproduction YCH-54A helicopters were built for testing, followed by 54 CH-54A standard models, powered by improved T73-P-1 engined, each developing 4,500shp. Seven additional S-64E Skycranes were produced for the civil market.

>Orthograph of the CH-54 Tarhe with an underslung load. | Illustration: Jetijones

In addition to large underslung loads, various pods were designed for the CH-54 to carry, allowing the chopper to transport troops, smaller cargo, a surgical suite or forward command post. Though innovative, the pods were not regularly utilized however.

>A CH-54 with a personnel pod. | Photo: US Army

>Another CH-54 in flight. The 'people pod' could carry up to 45 armed troops. | Photo: US Army

The Tarhe was soon pressed into service in Vietnam, flying larger cargo and whole aircraft to and from the battlefield. CH-54s were also used to drop the BLU-82 bomb, nicknamed the "Daisy Cutter", used to clear helicopter landing zones.

>A CH-54A Tarhe carrying 2 UH-1 Hueys. | Photo: US Army

>A CH-54A carrying a BLU-82 "Daisy Cutter" during a test drop. | Photo: US Army

The CH-54 set several world records: achieving the highest flight for a spin wing at 11,000m , as well as the fastest climb to set altitudes (3,000, 6,000 and 9,000 meters). 29 examples of the CH-54B, heavier and equipped with T-73P-700 turboshafts capable of 4,800shp were built, out of an order of 37, and a further upgrade which would have included three engines and an improved rotor and gearbox was planned, though later canceled.

>A CH-54B equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks and skis for landing on soft ground. | Photo: US Army

The type also found operators on the civilian market, with Erickson Inc being founded in 1971 with three Skycranes. Owner Jack Erickson developed a stabilizing rig to allow large loads to be carried, and Erickson's Skycranes were soon moving large HVAC units onto office buildings, transporting high tension line towers, and rather famously, lifting the antenna on to the CN Tower in Toronto in 1975.

>Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helicopter "Olga" lifting a segment of upper section of Toronto's CN Tower during construction, March 1975. | Photo: WikiPedant

>Ericson Air-Crane S-64 adding a segment to the CN Tower in 1975. | Photo: WikiPedant

The CH-54 hung on in US Army service during Vietnam, but was gradually replaced in regular Army service by the CH-47 Chinook, though the Tarhe was retained by National Guard units until 1991. A year later, Erickson Inc purchased the type certificate for the S-64 from Sikorsky, and began building their own copies of the design, making improvements along the way. Nearly three dozen CH-54A and B helicopters have been upgraded by Erickson, replacing the engines and making over 1,350 changes to the airframe, instrumentation, and payload capabilities of the helicopter. Another adaptation was the development of a firefighting module, allowing the Skycrane to syphon water from a source a mere 18" deep and drop 2,650 gallons of retardant.

>Erickson Air-Crane Sikorsky S-64E (N6962R) departing Wagga Wagga Airport in Australia. | Photo: Bidgee

[Chariotoflove]

@skyfire77 said in FLIGHTLINE: 101:

A CH-54A Tarhe carrying 2 UH-1 Hueys.

That is especially impressive because of the juxtaposition.

[trivet]

@skyfire77
Very cool. I've never seen the "People Pod" before.

[Skyfire77]

@trivet I had an old Revell/Monogram model of the Tarhe which includes the pod:

[Chariotoflove]

@skyfire77 Ooo, that's really neat. Wouldn't it be great to have a series of these machines with flyability?

[trivet]

@skyfire77 said in FLIGHTLINE: 101:

@trivet I had an old Revell/Monogram model of the Tarhe which includes the pod:

That is unmeasurably cool.

11/10

[ttyymmnn]

@skyfire77

Boeing tried to make one, too. Ya suppose this bird belongs to the Army?

Never completed, never flew, broken up in 2005.

Also, your pictures aren't showing up for me again. Obviously not a problem for others.

[jminer]

@skyfire77 Very cool write-up thanks!