Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard

Development of the S-62 was launched by Sikorsky during the late 1950s; the initiative was initially pursued as an independent commercial venture. This prototype was powered by a single General Electric T58-GE-6 turboshaft that had been derated from 1,050 hp to 670 hp, powering identical main and tail rotors to those of the S-55. At Sikorsky's own expense, it funded a "fly before you buy" test program at the Naval Air Test Center in Patuxent River, Maryland; the company actively promoted the type to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in particular. On 9 January 1963, the first of 99 production helicopters was delivered to the USCG. On 17 January 1969, the final example were delivered by the company. ==Design==

Perhaps the most prominent feature of the S-62 is its boat hull fuselage, which was more compact, but otherwise similar to the preceding Sikorsky S-61 (adopted by the US Navy as the SH-3 Sea King). This fuselage is watertight, facilitating landings on water and snow alike, and furnished with two outrigger floats that help the rotorcraft resist both pitching and rolling motions while on the water's surface. These outrigger floats also accommodated the landing gear, which was retractable. It was powered by a single General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshaft engine, capable to generating up to ; it was a derated version of the T58-GE-10 powerplant used on the larger, twin-engined SH-3. The S-62 had sufficient power to carry up to 12 passengers, or six litters, along with a crew of three. ==Operational history==

One prominent early use of the S-62 was with the operator San Francisco and Oakland Helicopter Airlines, one of the first helicopter airlines to operate without a federal subsidy, and the first to operate exclusively using turbine engine helicopters; the airline commenced passenger flights using a pair of two leased S-62s in June 1961, each of which being configured to carry up to 10 passengers. On 21 December of that year, rival operator Los Angeles Airways performed the first scheduled service using an American turbine-powered helicopter via a leased S-62. By June 1962, three S-62s were reportedly in operation for specialized transportation purposes, such as servicing offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, with Petroleum Helicopters. Other early civilian operators included Okanagan Helicopters, which used its S-62s to supply remote radar installations, and the Canadian Department of Transport, which had the type fly resupply missions to its lighthouses. A large fleet of 99 S-62s was purchased by the US Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics on behalf of the USCG, who operated the type primarily for search and rescue missions. It was initially designated HU2S-1G Seaguard, but was redesignated as the HH-52A Seaguard in 1962. The HH-52 was commonly dispatched aboard the USCG's larger cutters and icebreakers. The turbine-powered helicopter could carry greater payloads and fly faster than many preceding aircraft, such as the H-19 (S-55). Being designed to be amphibious, the installation of additional flotation gear was not required for over-water flights, and rescues could be conducted by simply landing on the water. Water pickups were considered to be quicker than hoisting survivors up to the helicopter. ==Variants==

;S-62 : Prototype. First flew on 14 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. ;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/Government and a Sikorsky HH-52A in March 1964 ; • Japan Air Self Defense Force • Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ; • Philippine Air Force ; • United States Coast Guard ; • Icelandic Coast Guard ; • Royal Thai Police Civilian ; • Gulf Helicopters ; • SFO Helicopter Airlines ==Aircraft on display==

While the type remains in service, a number of Seaguards are on display at museums around the world: Japan • 53-4774 - S-62J on static display at Hamamatsu Air Park, Hamamatsu AB, Shizuoka. United States • USCG 1355 – HH-52A on static display at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida. • USCG 1357 – At Dillingham Airfield in Mokulēia, Hawaii. • USCG 1370 – HH-52A on static display at Freedom Park in Omaha, Nebraska. • USCG 1375 – HH-52A in storage at Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. • USCG 1378 – HH-52A on static display at the Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama. • USCG 1383 – HH-52A on static display at the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center in West Chester, Pennsylvania. • USCG 1384 – On static display at CGAS Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. • USCG 1389 – At Delgado Community College in New Orleans, Louisiana. • USCG 1394 – HH-52A on display at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania. • USCG 1395 – HH-52A on static display at the Classic Rotors Museum in Ramona, California. • 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. • USCG 1397 – At Amarillo College in Amarillo, Texas. • USCG 1415 – HH-52A on static display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. • USCG 1416 – HH-52A at Broward College in Pembroke Pines, Florida. • 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. • 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 14 April 2016. • USCG 1428 – HH-52A on static display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. • USCG 1429 – HH-52A on static display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York, New York. • USCG 1450 – HH-52A on static display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona • USCG 1455 – HH-52A on static display at the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey in Teterboro, New Jersey. • 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. • USCG 1462 – HH-52A on static display at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum in Erma, New Jersey. • USCG 1466 – HH-52A on static display at the Selfridge Military Air Museum at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Philippines in Manila • 62018 – On static display at the Philippine Air Force Museum in Pasay, Manila. South Africa • 62-062 – S-62A on static display in Strand, Western Cape. It has been painted to resemble SH-3 bureau number 150142. Thailand • On static display at the Thai Police Aviation Division operations base in Bangkok, Thailand. ==Specifications (HH-52A)==