Sikorsky R-6 - Helicopter - avia.wikisort.org

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The Sikorsky R-6 is an American light two-seat helicopter of the 1940s. In Royal Air Force and Royal Navy service, it was named the Hoverfly II.

R-6 / Hoverfly II

R-6A Hoverfly II at the USAF Museum
Role	Helicopter Type of aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight	15 October 1943
Introduction	1945
Status	Retired
Primary users	United States Navy Royal Air Force
Number built	225
Developed from	Sikorsky R-4

Development

The R-6/Hoverfly II was developed to improve on the successful Sikorsky R-4. In order to enhance performance, a completely new streamlined fuselage was designed and the boom carrying the tail rotor was lengthened and straightened. The main rotor and transmission system of the R-4 were retained.[1] Sikorsky allotted their Model 49 designation to the new design. Later, dynamically-balanced modifications to the rotor were carried out by Doman Helicopters Inc. The new aircraft could attain 100 mph (160 km/h) compared with 82 mph (132 km/h) by the earlier design.

Initial production was by Sikorsky, but most examples were built by Nash-Kelvinator. Some of the later aircraft were fitted with more powerful engines.

Operational history

The first R-6s were delivered to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in late 1944 and some were transferred to the United States Navy (USN). It was initially intended to pass 150 R-6s to the Royal Air Force (RAF), but delays caused by the switch of production from Sikorsky's factory at Stratford, Connecticut to Nash-Kelvinator at Detroit Michigan meant that only 27 R-6As were actually delivered to the RAF as the Hoverfly II.[2] Fifteen of these were passed on to the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA).[3]

Some of the RAF examples were allotted to 657 Squadron RAF for proving the use of helicopters in the Army Co-operation role, and two external stretchers could be fitted to the fuselage. 657 Squadron operated their Hoverfly IIs as Air Observation Posts, spotting for Army artillery units. The Hoverfly IIs remained in operation until April 1951, and one squadron example was displayed at the September 1950 Farnborough Air Show.[4]

The FAA used their Hoverfly IIs in the training and liaison roles. Naval units to use the type included 771 Squadron from December 1945, followed by 705 Squadron.

The USAAF operated their R-6s in secondary roles and the survivors were redesignated H-6A in 1948. The USN examples were designated the HOS-1 and a further 64 were intended to be transferred from the USAAF, but this did not take place.

Disposals of surplus military S-49s were made in the civil market in the late 1940s but none now remain in operation. Four are currently displayed in US museums.[5]

Variants

XR-6: prototype powered by a 225 hp (168 kW) Lycoming O-435-7 (one)
XR-6A: as XR-6 but powered by the 240 hp (180 kW) Franklin O-405-9 (five) of which three to the US Navy as XHOS-1
YR-6A: as XR-6A with small changes (26) built by Nash-Kelvinator
R-6A: production model (193) built by Nash-Kelvinator of which 36 to US Navy as HOS-1 and 27 to the RAF as Hoverfly II
R-6B: projected variant with 225 hp (168 kW) Lycoming O-435-7, but not proceeded with
XR-7: projected development of the XR-6 with a 240 hp (180 kW) Franklin O-405-9 engine, not built.
Doman LZ-1: One R-6A modified as a testbed
Doman LZ-1A: One R-6A modified as a testbed with a Doman-designed hingeless rotor blades and self-lubricating rotor hub.

Operators

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force[6]

United States

United States Army Air Forces[6]
- 162nd Liaison Squadron
United States Air Force
- 72d Liaison Squadron[7]
United States Coast Guard[6]
United States Navy[6]

The mexican air force opered one ejemplar 1952 - 1970

Aircraft on display

43-45462 – R-6A on static display at the Museo Militar de Aviacion in Santa Lucía Air Force Base Num 1.[8]
43-45473 – R-6A on static display at the United States Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker near Ozark, Alabama.[9]
43-45379 – R-6A on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.[10]
43-45480 – LZ-1A on static display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. It was converted by Doman from the R-6.[11]
43-45531[12] – R-6 under restoration at the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center in West Chester, Pennsylvania.[13]

Specifications (R-6A)

Data from Thetford, 1977

General characteristics

Crew: one
Capacity: one observer
Length: 47 ft 11 in (14.61 m)
Gross weight: 2,600 lb (1,179 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Franklin O-405-9 piston, 240 hp (180 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)

Performance

Maximum speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)

References

Notes

Swanborough, 1963, p.529
Butler, 2004, p.278
Thetford, 1977, p.422
Thetford, 1976, p.603
Ogden, 2007, p.602
"S-49/R-6A/HOS-1/Hoverfly". sikorskyarchives.com. 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
"Factsheet 72 Helicopter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. April 9, 2008. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
"Sikorsky R-6A Hoverfly II". stanakshot. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
"Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Nash-Kelvinator R-6A, s/n 43-45473 US, c/r N5282N". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
"Sikorsky R-6A Hoverfly II". National Museum of the US Air Force. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
"Sikorsky R-6 Doman Conversion (LZ-1A)". New England Air Museum. New England Air Museum. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
Ogden, 2007
"Aircraft Being Restored". American Helicopter Museum & Education Center. American Helicopter Museum & Education Center. Retrieved 14 April 2017.

Bibliography

Butler, Phil (2004). Air Arsenal North America. Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-163-6.
Ogden, Bob (2007). Aviation Museums and Collections of North America. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-385-7.
Swanborough, F.G. (1963). United States Military Aircraft since 1909. Putnam & Company Ltd.
Thetford, Owen (1976). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918. Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-10056-5.
Thetford, Owen (1977). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-30021-1.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sikorsky R-6.

v t e Sikorsky aircraft
Fixed-wing aircraft (company designations)	S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10 S-11 S-12 S-13 S-14 S-15 S-16 S-17 S-18 S-19 S-20 S-21 S-22 S-23 S-24 S-25 S-26 S-27 S-28 S-29-A S-30 S-31 S-32 S-33 S-34 S-35 S-36 S-37 S-38 S-39 S-40 S-41 S-42 S-43 VS-44 S-45
Fixed-wing aircraft (military designations)	C-6 C-28 JRS JR2S PS P2S RS XBLR-3 XPBS XSS XV-2
Helicopters (company designations)	VS-300 (S-46) S-47 S-48 S-49 S-50 S-51 S-52 S-53 S-54 S-55 S-56 S-57 S-58 S-59 S-60 S-61 S-61L/N S-61R S-62 S-63 S-64 S-65 S-66 S-67 S-68 S-69 S-70 S-71 S-72 S-73 S-74 S-75 S-76 S-80 S-92 S-95 S-97 S-100 S-300 S-333 S-434
Helicopters (military designations)	SH-3 Sea King HH-3E/F R-4 H-5 H-6 H-18 H-19 Chickasaw H-34 Chocataw CH-37 Mojave XH-39 HH-52A Seaguard CH-53 Sea Stallion CH-53E Super Stallion CH-53K King Stallion MH-53 CH-54 Tarhe UH-60] Black Hawk HH-60G Pave Hawk HH-60J/MH-60T MH-60R/S Seahawk SH-60B/F Seahawk H-60J/K VH-60 RAH-66 Comanche VH-92 CH-124 Sea King CH-148 Cyclone HLH
Experimental aircraft	Cypher/Cypher II Firefly Raider Raider X SB-1 X2 XBLR-3 XV-2

United States helicopter designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems

Numerical sequence used by USAAC/USAAF/USAF 1941–present; U.S. Army 1948–1956 and 1962–present; U.S. Navy 1962–present

Army/Air Force sequence
(1941–1962)

Prefix R-, 1941–1948	R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8 R-9 R-10 R-11 R-12 R-13 R-14 R-15 R-16
Prefix H-, 1948–1962	H-5 H-6 H-9 H-10 H-11 H-12 H-13 J H-15 H-16 H-17 H-18 H-19 H-20 H-21 H-22 H-23 H-24 H-25 H-26 H-27 H-28 H-29 H-30 H-31 H-32 H-33 H-34 H-35 H-36¹ H-37 H-38¹ H-39 H-40 H-41 H-42 H-43 H-44¹ H-45¹

Tri-service sequence
(1962–present)

1962 redesignations	H-13 F J H-19 H-21 H-23 H-25 H-34 H-37 H-43
New designations	H-46 H-47 H-48 H-49 H-50 H-51 H-52 H-53 CH-53/E/K HH-53/MH-53 H-54 H-55 H-56 H-57 H-58 H-59 H-60 UH-60 SH-60 HH-60 MH-60 H-61 H-62 H-63 H-64 H-65 H-66 H-67 H-68 H-69¹ H-70 H-71 H-72 H-73
Alternate sequence	H-1 AH-1/J/T/W/Z UH-1/N/Y H-2 G H-3 CH-3/HH-3 SH-3 H-4 H-5 H-6 AH-6 MH-6 OH-6
Non-sequential	H-90 H-92 CH-92/VH-92 H-139

¹ Not assigned

USN helicopter designations pre-1962

Helicopter, Anti-submarine

Bell	HSL
Sikorsky	HSS-1 HSS-2

Helicopter, Crane

McDonnell	HCH

Helicopter, Observation

Convertawings	HOC
Hiller	HOE
Gyrodyne	HOG
Kaman	HOK
Sikorsky	HOS HO2S HO3S HO4S HO5S

Helicopter, Trainer pre-1948

Sikorsky	HNS

Helicopter, Trainer 1948-1962

Hiller	HTE
Kaman	HTK
Bell	HTL

Helicopter, Transport 1944-1962

Boeing Vertol	HRB
McDonnell	HRH
Piasecki	HRP
Sikorsky	HRS HR2S HR3S

Helicopter, Utility pre-1949

McDonnell	HJD
McDonnell	HJH
Piasecki	HJP
Sikorsky	HJS

Helicopter, Utility 1950-1962

Kaman	HUK HU2K
Bell	HUL
McCulloch	HUM
Piasecki	HUP
Sikorsky	HUS HU2S

На других языках

[de] Sikorsky R-6

Der Sikorsky R-6 (Werksbezeichnung: S-49 oder Model 49) war ein leichter zweisitziger Ganzmetall-Hubschrauber der amerikanischen Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. Bei der Royal Air Force (RAF) wurde der R-6 als Hoverfly II bezeichnet.

- [en] Sikorsky R-6

[fr] Sikorsky S-49

Le Sikorsky S-49 est un hélicoptère léger américain conçu et réalisé dans les années 1940[1] pour les besoins militaires. Il fut parmi les premières machines de ce type construites en série. Il est également connu comme Sikorsky R-6.

[ru] Sikorsky R-6

Sikorsky R-6 — лёгкий двухместный вертолёт. Разработчик — «Sikorsky Aircraft». Выпускался с 1945 года, выпущено 225 вертолётов. Состоял на вооружении в США и Великобритании, отдельные машины эксплуатировались в гражданской авиации.

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