Sikorsky S-61R

The Sikorsky S-61R was developed as a derivative of their S-61/SH-3 Sea King model. It features a substantially revised fuselage with a rear loading ramp, a conventional, though watertight, hull instead of the S-61's boat-hull, and retractable tricycle landing gear. The fuselage layout was used by Sikorsky for the larger CH-53 variants, and by the much later (though similarly sized) S-92. In 1957, Sikorsky engineers were working on a new model for the United States Navy to replace the HUS-1s, used for anti-submarine warfare. Designated the HSS-2 (Helicopter, anti-Submarine, Sikorsky) under the old designation system, this helicopter would enter service as the SH-3 Sea King under the new tri-service designation system. On 9 January 1958, General Randolph M. Pate, Commandant of the Marine Corps, wrote to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) requesting procurement of modified HSS-2s to replace the Marines' HUS-1 helicopters. General Pate recommended that the transport version be designated the HR3S (Helicopter, Transport-3-Sikorsky). The improved HH-3E variant would follow later, with eight built, and with all 50 CH-3Es converted to this standard. Known as the Jolly Green Giant (because of its size and olive green color scheme; alluding to the Jolly Green Giant company mascot), the HH-3E featured protective armor, self-sealing tanks, a retractable inflight refueling probe, jettisonable external tanks, a high-speed hoist, and other specialized equipment. ==Operational service==

United States USAF variants served in numerous air rescue squadrons and aerospace rescue and recovery squadrons of the Military Airlift Command (MAC), rescue squadrons of the Air Combat Command (ACC) and other USAF major commands worldwide. The aircraft was also used by a number of Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard rescue squadrons. All USAF HH-3Es, to include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, were retired in the 1990s and replaced by the current HH-60G Pavehawk. The HH-3F Pelican was a dependable workhorse for the US Coast Guard from the late 1960s until it was phased out in the late 1990s. All USCG HH-3Fs were replaced by the HH-60J Jayhawk and those aircraft have since been upgraded to the MH-60T Jayhawk version. Transatlantic flight Between 31 May and 1 June 1967, two HH-3Es of the United States Air Force made the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by helicopter. Departing from New York in the early hours, the two helicopters arrived at the 1967 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget after a 30 hr 46 min flight. Both helicopters were later lost in combat operations in Southeast Asia in 1969 and 1970. Italy Agusta began production in 1974 and delivered 22 helicopters as replacements for the Grumman HU-16 Albatross used for SAR (Search and Rescue) missions at sea. Italian Air Force AS-61R helicopters performed SAR missions under designation HH-3F in time of peace and C/SAR (Combat SAR) in time of crisis or during military assignment. All helicopters were operated by the five flights of the 15° Stormo Stefano Cagna and deployed in four bases across Italy. In Italian Service the HH-3F replaced HU-16 seaplanes. In November 2024, Clayton International purchased 26 retired Italian S-61R helicopters. ==Variants==

Source: ;S-61R :Military transport helicopter, Sikorsky model number. ;HR3S-1 :Proposed transport helicopter for U.S. Marine Corps, cancelled ;S-61R-10 :Prototype operated by Sikorsky and first flown 17 June 1963. ;S-61R-12 capability. This was also the first HH-3F delivered to the Coast Guard. :One aircraft for the Argentine Air Force to HH-3F standards. ;CH-3C :Initial military transport helicopter for the US Air Force, powered by two 1050 shp GE T58-GE-1 engines. 44 built; six additional airframes, ordered as CH-3C's were completed on the production line to HH-3E standards (see below). ;JCH-3C :Five CH-3C's temporarily assigned to development and test duties; one of them was re-engined as a JCH-3E. ;HH-3C :Initial designation of the initial six rescue-configured CH-3C's. They were redesignated HH-3E on 01.03.1966. ;CH-3E :Definitive military transport helicopter for the US Air Force, powered by two 1500 shp GE T58-GE-5 engines. 32 were built and another 33 converted from surviving CH-3C's. Another three HH-3E's assigned to Alaskan Air Command were temporarily converted to CH-3E standards. ;JCH-3E :One JCH-3C upgraded with T58-GE-5 engines; temporarily assigned to development and test duties. ;HH-3E Jolly Green Giant :Long-range, air refuellable search and rescue helicopter for the US Air Force, powered by T58-GE-5 engines. 57 were built as such, of which the initial six were diverted from CH-3C production. Another twelve were converted from CH-3E standards ;JHH-3E :One HH-3E temporarily assigned to development and test duties. ;MH-3E :Unofficial designation of the HH-3E's assigned to the USAF Reserve 71st Special Operations Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB. ;VH-3E :Unofficial designation of the CH-3E's assigned to the USAF Headquarters Command 1st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews AFB for VIP transport duties. ;HH-3F "Pelican" :Long-range search and rescue helicopter for the US Coast Guard, 40 built. Another 35 were built under license in two batches (20+15) by Agusta SpA for the Italian Air Force. ; ==Operators==

Civil ; • Croman Helicopters • Erickson Military ; • Tunisian Air Force Former over California ; • Argentine Air Force ; • Italian Air Force ; • San Bernardino County Sheriff • United States Air Force • United States Coast Guard ==Aircraft on display==

Argentina • H-02 – S-61R on static display at the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica in Morón, Buenos Aires. It was formerly used as a presidential helicopter. United States • 44010 – CH-3C in storage at Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. • 62-12581 – CH-3C on static display at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base near Rosamond, California. • 63-9676 – CH-3E in storage at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. at the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado. • 65-5690 – CH-3E on static display at the Aerospace Museum of California at Sacramento McClellan Airport (former McClellan AFB) in Sacramento, California. • 64-14232 – H-3E on static display at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. • 65-12784 – HH-3E on static display at the Air Park at Hurlburt Field in Mary Esther, Florida. • 65-12797 – CH-3E on static display at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina. • 66-13290 – HH-3E on static display at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, New York. It is the aircraft in which Leland T. Kennedy earned the first of his two Air Force Crosses. • 67-14703 – HH-3E on static display at the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. • 67-14709 – HH-3E on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. • USCG 1484 – HH-3F on static display at Winvian Farm in Morris, Connecticut. It is incorporated into a guest bedroom. • USCG 1486 – HH-3F on static display at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida. ==Specifications (HH-3E)==