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| Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave |
| Caption | USAF CH-37 Mojave in flight |
| Type | Heavy transport helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
| First flight | 1953 |
| Introduced | 1955 |
| Retired | 1970s (USAF) |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Produced | 1953–1958 |
| Number built | 131 |
Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave is a heavy-lift piston-engined transport helicopter developed in the early 1950s by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Air Force. Combining large-capacity fuselage design with twin radial engines mounted in wingtip pods, the type provided strategic and tactical airlift, airborne recovery, and cargo handling for the USAF and later for civilian operators. It served in high-profile support roles during the Cold War era and influenced subsequent heavy-lift rotorcraft concepts.
Sikorsky conceived the Type S-56 as a derivative of the Sikorsky H-19 and Sikorsky H-34 families to meet United States Air Force requirements for a heavy cargo helicopter during the early Cold War period. Following evaluation of the prototype in 1953, the USAF placed contracts that led to production of the CH-37 under the United States Air Force designation system; the type was designed to replace fixed-wing transports in some short-haul roles for units such as Military Air Transport Service detachments and Air Rescue Service squadrons. Developmental work involved airframe strengthening, incorporation of twin Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines, and trials that included cooperation with National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics research concepts and wind-tunnel testing at Langley Research Center. Production proceeded at Sikorsky facilities with logistical support coordinated through Wright-Patterson Air Force Base procurement channels.
The Mojave featured a conventional helicopter fuselage with a large clamshell nose door and an unobstructed cargo bay capable of carrying troops, vehicles, or external cargo. Power came from two Wright R-1820 series radial engines housed in stub wingtip pods, a layout influenced by contemporary designs such as the Piasecki H-21 and the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane concept development; engines transmitted torque through long driveshafts to a five-bladed main rotor and a multi-bladed tail rotor. The aircraft incorporated a tricycle landing gear and hydraulic cargo-handling equipment adapted from Fairchild C-119 loading concepts to expedite loading for units like Strategic Air Command detachments and United States Air Force Air Rescue Service. Avionics suites were tailored for all-weather operations using navigation aids developed by Collins Radio Company and communications systems compatible with North American Aviation and Boeing transport fleets. Structural design emphasized redundancy and maintainability based on lessons from Korean War rotary-wing operations.
Operational deployment began in the mid-1950s with assignments to USAF air rescue, special operations, and transport squadrons including detachments associated with Pacific Air Forces and United States Air Forces in Europe. The CH-37 participated in high-altitude operations and heavy-lift missions supporting bases at Eglin Air Force Base and forward locations such as Iwakuni and Clark Air Base. Crews conducted recovery missions for downed aircraft, logistics resupply for remote radar sites like those of Air Defense Command, and troop movement exercises in conjunction with United States Army units during joint training. Limitations in range and vulnerability of piston powerplants led to gradual replacement by turbine-powered helicopters such as the Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe and Piasecki H-21 derivatives; many CH-37s were reassigned to support roles, transferred to civilian agencies, or retired by the late 1960s. Notable operational incidents involved heavy-lift recoveries and long-duration troop movements during Cold War contingencies that demonstrated the platform's unique capabilities.
- CH-37A: Initial production model for the United States Air Force configured for cargo, troop transport, and rescue duties; equipped with dual R-1820 engines and standard avionics. - H-37B: Designation applied to modified airframes adapted for VIP and special missions with upgraded communications suites compatible with Presidential Airlift Group standards. - S-56: Sikorsky company designation for prototypes and export evaluation airframes used in civilian trials with Pan American World Airways and other operators exploring heavy-lift roles. - Civil conversions: Several airframes were re-engined or modified for civilian use by contractors such as McDonnell Douglas subsidiaries and operated in logging, firefighting, and construction support roles; some installations experimented with Turbomeca and General Electric powerplants in retrofit programs.
- United States Air Force — primary operator for transport, search and rescue, and special operations support. - Civil operators — a small number of CH-37s entered civilian service with companies registered in United States, Mexico, and Canada for heavy-lift contracting, film production logistics, and experimental conversions. - Evaluators — export and evaluation flights involved delegations from Royal Canadian Air Force, French Armée de l'Air, and other NATO air arms during the 1950s as part of comparative rotorcraft studies.
Several CH-37 airframes survive in museums and static displays. Notable preserved examples are on display at institutions such as the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, and the Yanks Air Museum. Restoration groups and historical associations have recovered components from derelict airframes for exhibits illustrating early heavy-lift helicopter development in exhibits alongside artifacts from Korean War and Vietnam War eras.
- Crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot, crew chief/loadmaster) - Capacity: up to 26 troops or cargo equivalent; vehicle stowage via clamshell nose doors - Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820 radial engines - Rotor system: single five-bladed main rotor, multi-bladed tail rotor - Maximum speed: approximately 130–140 knots - Range: operational ferry range dependent on load; typical tactical radius ~300 nmi - Service ceiling: high-altitude capability suitable for mountainous operations - Dimensions: large fuselage with stub wings for engine pods and stabilizers
Category:Sikorsky aircraft Category:United States military helicopters Category:1950s United States military transport aircraft