H-19 Chickasaw
An H-19 Chickasaw
Description
Role	Multi-purpose helicopter
Crew	2 (pilot, copilot) + 12 troops or 8 litters
Dimensions
Length	62 ft 7 in (overall) 42 ft 2 in (fuselage)	19.1 m 12.85 m
Width (Fuselage)
Height	13 ft 4 in	4.07 m
Rotor diameter	53 ft	16.16 m
Weights
Empty	4,795 lb	2,177 kg
Loaded	7,200 lb	3,266 kg
Maximum take-off	7,900 lb	3,587 kg
Powerplant
Engines	1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-57 radial piston
Power	600 hp	450 kW
Performance
Maximum speed	101 mph	163 km/h
Combat range
Ferry range	405 mi	652 km
Service ceiling	10,500 ft	3,200 m
Rate of climb	700 ft/min	213 m/min
Armament
Guns
Bombs

The H-19 Chickasaw (later UH-19, also widely known outside the US by its manufacturer's designation of S-55) was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army. It was also licensed to Westland Aircraft and manufactured as the Westland Whirlwind in the United Kingdom.

The H-19's first flight was on November 10, 1949 and it entered operations in 1950. Over 1,000 of the helicopters were manufactured by Sikorsky for the United States. An additional 550 were manufactured by licensees of the helicopter including Westland Aircraft, Sud-Est in France and Mitsubishi in Japan.

The helicopter was widely exported, used by many other nations, including Israel, Chile and Turkey.

Combat Experience

The H-19 underwent live service tests during the Korean War beginning in 1951. Undergoing tests such as medical evacuation, tactical control and front-line cargo support, the helicopter succeeded admirably in surpassing the capabilities of the H-5 Dragon Fly which had been used throughout the Korean conflict by the Army.

The H-19 was also used in the early days of the Vietnam War before being supplanted by the H-34 Choctaw, which was based on the H-19.

External link

• GlobalSecuity: H-19 Chickasaw