Sikorsky Aircraft S-55 (H-19 Chickasaw)
Medium Utility Helicopter
Photo ©: Karsten Palt
The Sikorsky S-55 is a medium single-engine utility helicopter with a capacity of max. 10 passengers built by the American manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. The military versions were the H-19 (US Air Force), HO4S (US Navy and Coast Guard) and HRS-1, HRS-2, HRS-3 (US Marine Corps).
Sikorsky built a total of 1281 aircraft of which 216 were civil helicopters. License production was carried out by Westland in England with a total of 477 helicopters. Further helicopters were license built by SNCASE in France and Mitsubishi in Japan. Some S-55 were later converted to a Turboshaft Engine variant with 650 shp and named S-55T.
| Crew | 2 | |
| Passengers | 7 | |
| Propulsion | 1 Radial Engine | |
| Engine Model | Pratt & Whitney R-1340-3 Wasp | |
| Engine Power | 520 kW | 697 hp |
| max. Cruise Speed | 163 km/h | 88 kts 101 mph |
| max. Speed (vne) | 176 km/h | 95 kts 109 mph |
| Service Ceiling | 3.200 m | 10.500 ft |
| Rate of climb | 223 m/min | 730 ft/min |
| Range | 644 km | 348 NM 400 mi. |
| Empty Weight | 2.177 kg | 4.800 lbs |
| max. Takeoff Weight | 3.583 kg | 7.900 lbs |
| Rotor Blades (main/tail) | 3/2 | |
| Main Rotor Diameter | 16,15 m | 52 ft 12 in |
| Tail Rotor Diameter | 2,50 m | 8 ft 2 in |
| Rotor Disc Area | 204,8 m² | 2204 ft² |
| Length (Fuselage) | 12,85 m | 42 ft 2 in |
| Length | 19,07 m | 62 ft 7 in |
| Height | 4,00 m | 13 ft 1 in |
| First Flight | 10.11.1949 | |
| Production Status | out of production | |
| Total Production | ca. 1900 | |
| ICAO Code | S55P S55T | |
| FAA TCDS | 1H4 | |
| Data for (Version) | Sikorsky S-55C | |
| Variants | Sikorsky S-55, S-55C, S-55D, YH-19, H-19A, H-19B, H-19C, H-19D, HO4S-1, HO4S-1G, HO4S-3, HO4S-3G, HRS-1, HRS-2, HRS-3 | |
| [Photo-ID: 6439] © Karsten Palt 2013-02-09 | |
 | Sikorsky H-19A Chicasaw (S-55B) Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Reg.: H3-3/97 c/n: 55-757 |
| Royal Thai Air Force Museum [Bangkok] | |
| [Photo-ID: 6440] © Karsten Palt 2013-02-09 | |
 | Sikorsky H-19A Chicasaw (S-55B) Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Reg.: H3-3/97 c/n: 55-757 |
| Royal Thai Air Force Museum [Bangkok] | |
| [Photo-ID: 3135] © Karsten Palt 2010-01-31 | |
 | Sikorsky H-19B Chickasaw United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 53-4458 c/n: 0-34458 |
| Deutsches Museum [Munich / München] | |
| [Photo-ID: 3136] © Karsten Palt 2010-01-31 | |
 | Sikorsky H-19B Chickasaw United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 53-4458 c/n: 0-34458 |
| Deutsches Museum [Munich / München] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7903] © Karsten Palt 2014-03-09 | |
 | Sikorsky H-19C Chickasaw United States Navy Reg.: 95 c/n: 55-729 |
| Intrepid Air, Space & Sea Museum [New York City, NY] | |
| [Photo-ID: 5766] © Karsten Palt 2012-04-29 | |
 | Sikorsky HH-19B Chicasaw Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Reg.: 34-425 c/n: 55-764 |
| The War Memorial of Korea [Seoul] | |
| [Photo-ID: 5762] © Karsten Palt 2012-04-29 | |
 | Sikorsky HH-19B Chicasaw Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Reg.: 34-425 c/n: 55-764 |
| The War Memorial of Korea [Seoul] | |
| [Photo-ID: 959] © Karsten Palt 2008-06-21 | |
 | Sikorsky HO4S-3 (S-55B) Royal Netherlands Navy / Koninklijke Marine (MLD) Reg.: 76 c/n: 133777 |
| Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome [Lelystad (EHLE / LEY)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 5907] © Karsten Palt 2012-06-13 | |
 | Sikorsky HRS-3 (CH-19E Chickasaw / S-55B) United States Marine Corps (USMC) Reg.: 130252 c/n: 55-408 |
| Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum [San Diego, CA] | |
| [Photo-ID: 5908] © Karsten Palt 2012-06-13 | |
 | Sikorsky HRS-3 (CH-19E Chickasaw / S-55B) United States Marine Corps (USMC) Reg.: 130252 c/n: 55-408 |
| Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum [San Diego, CA] | |
| [Photo-ID: 13064] © Arjun Sarup 2012-04-08 | |
 | Sikorsky Aircraft S-55 (H-19 Chickasaw) Indian Air Force Reg.: IZ1590 c/n: 55-1077 On display at IAF Museum Palam. Purchased from the USA in 1954 to equip No. 104 Helicopter Unit. |
| [Indira Gandhi International Airport (VIDP / DEL)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 4363] © Karsten Palt 2011-06-30 | |
 | Sikorsky S-55C Royal Danish Air Force Reg.: S-884 c/n: 55-1032 |
| Danmarks Flymuseum [Stauning] | |
| [Photo-ID: 4364] © Karsten Palt 2011-06-30 | |
 | Sikorsky S-55C Royal Danish Air Force Reg.: S-884 c/n: 55-1032 |
| Danmarks Flymuseum [Stauning] | |
| [Photo-ID: 5516] © Karsten Palt 2012-01-11 | |
 | Sikorsky UH-19B Chicasaw United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 52-7587 |
| National Museum of the United States Air Force [Dayton, Ohio / USA (Wright-Patterson AFB)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7651] © Karsten Palt 2013-08-16 | |
 | Sikorsky UH-19B Chickasaw Turkish Air Force Reg.: 52-7577 c/n: 55-714 |
| Turkish Air Force Museum [Yesilkoy, Istanbul] | |
| [Photo-ID: 11201] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Sikorsky UH-19B Chickasaw United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 52-7537 ex N2256G |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1091] © Karsten Palt 2008-07-11 | |
 | Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR Mk.10 Royal Air Force Reg.: XD163 c/n: WA20 converted Mk.4 |
| The Helicopter Museum [Weston-super-Mare] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1501] © Karsten Palt 2008-09-27 | |
 | Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR Mk.10 Royal Air Force Reg.: XD186 c/n: WA29 |
| Flugausstellung L.+P. Junior [Hermeskeil] | |
| [Photo-ID: 4470] © Karsten Palt 2011-01-02 | |
 | Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR Mk.10 Royal Air Force Reg.: XP339 c/n: WA335 |
| Museum für Luftfahrt und Technik [Wernigerode] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1092] © Karsten Palt 2008-07-11 | |
 | Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAS Mk.7 Royal Navy Reg.: XK940 c/n: WA/H/167 |
| The Helicopter Museum [Weston-super-Mare] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1097] © Karsten Palt 2008-07-11 | |
 | Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HCC Mk.12 Royal Air Force Reg.: XR486 c/n: WA418 RAF Queens Flight |
| The Helicopter Museum [Weston-super-Mare] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10745] © Karsten Palt 2014-10-23 | |
 | Westland WS-55 Whirlwind Series 2 Spanish Air Force Reg.: ZD.1B-22 c/n: WA560 |
| Museo del Aire [Madrid] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1078] © Karsten Palt 2008-07-11 | |
 | Westland WS-55 Whirlwind Series 3 Bristow Helicopters Reg.: G-AODA c/n: WA113 |
| The Helicopter Museum [Weston-super-Mare] | |
| [Photo-ID: 6894] © Karsten Palt 2013-05-17 | |
 | Westland WS-55 Whirlwind Series 3 Bristow Helicopters Reg.: G-APWN c/n: WA298 |
| Midland Air Museum [Coventry] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7676] © Karsten Palt 2013-09-19 | |
 | Westland WS-55 Whirlwind Series 3 Bristow Helicopters Reg.: VR-BEP c/n: WA83 in RAF Rescue c/s, ex Royal Navy XG588, ex G-BAMH |
| East Midlands Airport Aeropark [Castle Donington] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7012] © Karsten Palt 2013-05-18 | |
 | Westland WS-55-1 Whirlwind HAR.1 Royal Navy Reg.: XA870 c/n: WA16 |
| South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum [Doncaster] | |
| [Photo-ID: 13140] © Karsten Palt 2016-07-10 | |
 | Westland WS-55-2 Whirlwind HAS.7 Royal Navy Reg.: XK936 c/n: WA163 |
| Imperial War Museum [Duxford Aerodrome (EGSU / QFO)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 6982] © Karsten Palt 2013-05-18 | |
 | Westland WS-55-2 Whirlwind HAS.7 Royal Navy Reg.: XM685 c/n: WA263 |
| Newark Air Museum [Winthorpe, Newark] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1295] © Karsten Palt 2008-07-16 | |
 | Westland WS-55-2 Whirlwind HAS7 Royal Navy Reg.: XK936 c/n: WA163 |
| Imperial War Museum [Duxford Aerodrome (EGSU / QFO)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1053] © Karsten Palt 2008-07-10 | |
 | Westland WS-55-2 Whirlwind HAS7 Royal Navy Reg.: XN299 c/n: WA279 |
| Tangmere Military Aviation Museum [Tangmere] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7013] © Karsten Palt 2013-05-18 | |
 | Westland WS-55-3 Whirlwind HAR.10 Royal Air Force Reg.: XJ398 c/n: WA62 |
| South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum [Doncaster] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1297] © Karsten Palt 2008-07-16 | |
 | Westland WS-55-3 Whirlwind HAR.10 Royal Air Force Reg.: XP299 c/n: WA342 |
| Royal Air Force Museum [London-Hendon] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7014] © Karsten Palt 2013-05-18 | |
 | Westland WS-55-3 Whirlwind HAR.10 Royal Air Force Reg.: XP345 c/n: WA361 |
| South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum [Doncaster] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10358] © Karsten Palt 2014-05-28 | |
 | Sikorsky YH-19 (S-55) Reg.: N4782D c/n: 1 first S-55 built |
| NASM Udvar Hazy Center [Chantilly, VA] | |