Sunday, May 9, 2021

The engine bay of a Sikorsky S58.

 


8 comments:

  1. If you have never seen or heard a radial engine powered helicopter you need to find a way to see or do that. A ride would be Devine, so many moving parts so much that could go wrong. Brave souls all.

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  2. Was it true that this helo was developed around the fact that there were so many surplus C-47 engines from WWII.....that they needed somewhere to use them?

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    Replies
    1. The Sikorsky used a Wright R1820 (B-17 engine). The C-47 used a P+W R1830.

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  3. No. The reason was these engines were simple, powerful enough and most importantly reliable. They went 400 hours between overhauls, but overhauls could be done in a jungle dirt strip by line mechanics...overnight. The best example of a original S-58 is in the US Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker Alabama. It flew President Dwight D. Eisenhower- a first. Fun facts to know- A UH1 can fly using diesel for fuel (instead of JP4). BUT only for ten hours. The engine must then be pulled and sent to the factory for overhaul. You best have a VERY good reason to do that $$$$.

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  4. I think the UH-34 had a similar engine. 9 cylinder rotary gasoline engine. Something like 1820 cubic inches. It was a work horse of a helicopter in Viet Nam.

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    Replies
    1. Small correction. It is a radial engine, not rotary. A rotary is like the original early Mazda engine.

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    2. UH-34: Helicopter Utility Support. The origin of the phrase "HUS Me Out" "Help Me Out"

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  5. The turbine conversions of that helo was pretty slick looking under that cowl.

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