Sikorsky CH-37B
Sikorsky CH-37B Mojave
In 1951 the U.S. Marines issued a requirement for a new heavy assault helicopter. Sikorsky’s offering was its first twin-engine helicopter, designated HR2S-1 by the Navy and H-37 by the Army. The Mojave was a radical design for its time. It had fully retractable main landing gear and a front opening clamshell door, with the engines in large pods on each side of the main fuselage. The large five blade rotor was specially designed to allow the helicopter to continue flying if one of the blades was shot off. The Mojave began testing with both the Army and Marines in 1953. Deliveries to both services began in 1956, and production continued until 1960. Mojave’s served as heavy-lift transports until the early 1970s.
| Wingspan | 72 ft |
Rotor Diameter |
| Length | 64 ft 3 in. |
Length |
| Height | 22 ft |
Height |
| Weight | 31,000 (loaded) |
Weight |
| Max. Speed | 130 MPH |
Maximum Speed |
| Service Ceiling | 8,700 ft |
Service Ceiling |
| Range | 145 miles |
Range |
| Engines | Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radials with 2,100 horsepower each |
Engines |
| Crew | 2 with 23 passengers |
Crew |
Manufacturer
Sikorsky
Markings
90th Transportation Company, Illesheim, West Germany, 1965
Serial Number
58-1005
Designation
CH-37B “Tired Dude”