S-61A SEAKING "ANTARCTICA OBSERVATION SHIP SHIRASE"

The H-3 is a twin engine, all-weather helicopter. The turbine engined Sikorsky S-61 spawned a family of submarine hunters, airliners, and rescue helicopters with offspring still serving around the world. Born as the Sea King antisubmarine helicopter for the US Navy originally named HSS-2, the S-61 grow in different models and is now used by several countries.

In December 1957 the US Navy began a new program for a high performance helicopter to replace the outdated S-58 (HSS-1). Sikorsky proposed a large twin turbine aircraft with a boat-type hull and retractable landing gear for amphibious operations. The S-61 aircraft, first designated as HSS-1, then HSS-2, made it's first public factory flight on March 11, 1959. The US Navy ordered the first ten S-61B/HSS-2 for delivery starting in September 1961. One year later, the HSS-2 was redesignated to SH-3A (H-3A, D, G, H). The H-3 helicopter was the first helicopter to incorporate an automatic blade fold system. It was the first helicopter to fly faster than 200 mph. It flew 210.6 mph (185kts) in 1962. It held the longest non-stop distance record for helicopter's. In 1965 loaded with extra fuel, it made a non-stop flight from the carrier Hornet, off the coast of San Diego, to the carrier F.D. Roosevelt, off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. Covering 2116 miles in 15 hrs, 52 mins. The H-3 Sea King was designed for both shore and ship-based operations with the ability to detect, track, and destroy enemy submarines (ASW), provide logistic support, and to conduct search and rescue operations.

By 1979, the 20th anniversary of the first flight, more than 900 military S-61s had accumulated over 3 million flight hours, and 130 commercial S-61s had logged a total of more than 815,000 hours. Sikorsky built more than 1100 S-61s, and this excellent machine was also built with license in Great Britain by Westland as Sea King and Commando, in Italy by Agusta as AS.61 and in Japan by Mitsubishi.

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S-61A SHIRASA FLIGHT DIVISION YOKOSUKA DISTRICT /HS-101 J.M.S.D.F. Tateyama Air Base.
S-61ASHIRASE FLIGHT DIVISION YOKOSUKA DISTRICT /HS-101 J.M.S.D.F. Tateyama Air Base.

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