Air Power

SIKORSKY YH-5A "DRAGON FLY"

The H-5, originally designated the R-5 (H for Helicopter; R for Rotorcraft), was designed to provide a helicopter having greater useful load, endurance, speed, and service ceiling than the R-4. The first XR-5 of four ordered made its initial flight on August 18, 1943. In March 1944, the AAF ordered 26 YR-5As for service testing, and in February 1945, the first YR-5A was delivered.

During its service life, the H-5 was used for rescue and mercy missions throughout the world. It gained its greatest fame, however, during the Korean War when it was called upon repeatedly to rescue United Nations' pilots shot down behind enemy lines and to evacuate wounded personnel from frontline areas.

More than 300 H-5s had been built by the time production was halted in 1951.

SPECIFICATIONS
Main rotor diameter: 48 ft.
Tail rotor diameter: 8 ft. 5 in.
Fuselage Length: 41 ft. 2 in.
Height: 12 ft. 11 in.
Weight: 4,815 lbs. loaded
Armament: None
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 of 450 hp.

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 90 mph.
Cruising speed: 70 mph.
Range: 280 miles
Service Ceiling: 10,000 ft.

This prayer for our troops was sent to me by my sister. Please say a prayer now for all our troops wherever they may be.

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen."

DragonFly Bump

The tandem two-seat VS-336 was designed to improve the R-4 Hoverfly's performance and first flew in 1943. Accepted into U.S. Army Air Force service as the R-5 Dragonfly and as the HO2S in the U.S. Navy.

The "D" model changed the landing gear to a nosewheel configuration. A civil four-seat version--the S-51--first flew in 1946 and was purchased by the U.S. Air Force as the H-5 and U.S. Navy as the HO3S.

This helicopter saw extensive action in Korea rescuing United Nations pilots shot down behind enemy lines and can be seen in the movie Bridges at Toko-Ri