The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
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Sikorsky R-4B Hoverfly
|
Crew |
1 or 2 |
|
Dimensions |
33'8" by 38' (rotor) by 12'5" 10.26m by 11.58m (rotor) by 3.78m |
|
Weights |
2581 lbs loaded 1170 kg loaded |
|
Maximum speed |
75 mph 121 km/h |
| Cruise speed |
65 mph 105 km/h |
|
Service ceiling |
8000 feet 2400 meters |
|
Engines |
One 200 hp Warner R-550 |
|
Range |
130 miles 210 km |
| 30 YR-4A and -4B prototypes 1942-1943 100 R-4B production aircraft 1943-1944 |
The R-4 Hoverfly or "Eggbeater" was the first mass-produced helicopter
and the first Allied
helicopter to see operational use. Two prototypes were sent to Alaska and Burma, and showed enough promise that
the Army Air Forces ordered 100 production aircraft. Four of these saw
operational use with 1
Air Commando Group in Burma, where they were used
as observation aircraft
and to evacuate the wounded
from otherwise inaccessible locations. A small number were also used
for air evacuation in the second Philippines campaign.
References
National Museum of the USAF (accessed 2008-1-14)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2008-2009 by Kent G. Budge. Index
