Canadian Warplanes 7: Sikorsky helicopters flown by the Canadian Forces

Sikorsky helicopters flown by the Canadian Forces

(RCN Photo BV70-208 via Mike Kaehler)

A day in the life of HMCS Bonaventure in 1970. You can see deck hands holding the rotor tie down ropes to steady them on Sikorsky HO4S (Serial No. 55875) as Sea King (Serial No. 4017) takes off behind it. At the tail of 55875 you can see a deck hand with flags is giving the Sea King pilot a "thumbs up" that he is clear of 55875. Another deck hand is walking away with the chocks and two are wearing firefighting gear. Note the large speakers on 55875 just above the rear landing gear. Looks like a small DC power cart by 55875.

(U.S. Navy Photo, Lt. j.g. Brett Dawson)

Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King (Serial No. 4028), performing deck landing qualifications on board dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) during PANAMAX 2007.

(Author Photos)

Sikorsky CH-124A Sea King (Serial No. 4028), No. 423 Squadron, part of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum since 19 Dec 2019. It is currently on display in front of the NDHQ complex on Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario.

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Sikorsky VS-316 (R-4B) Hoverfly Helicopter

(IWM Photo)

The Sikorsky R-4 is a two-seat helicopter that was designed by Igor Sikorsky with a single, three-bladed main rotor and powered by a radial engine. The R-4 was the world's first large-scale mass-produced helicopter and the first helicopter used by the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. In U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard service, the helicopter was known as the Sikorsky HNS-1. In British service it was known as the Hoverfly. 52 were delivered to the RAF and the RN, and one was later transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force. (Wikipedia)

(RCAF Photo)

Posed shot of litter patient being transferred from Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly, RCAF (Serial No. 9603), to an ambulance at Rockcliffe, Ontario.

(DND Photo)

Nursing Sister "Parabelle" publicity shot, Sikorsky H-5 Dragonfly (Serial No. 9602), No. 103 Rescue Unit, Greenwood, Nova Scotia, ca 1950s.

(Author Photo)

Sikorsky S-51/H-5 Dragonfly Helicopter, RCAF (Serial No. 9607), (Serial No. 51166), VC-GBC. The Hangar Flight Museum, Calgary, Alberta.

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Sikorsky H-19 and HO4S-3 Sea Horse

(RCN Photo)

RCN H04S helicopters numbered 4-1-2-3 used for anti submarine work, on board HMCS Bonaventure. The HO4S in the air is the plane guard for rescue of downed aircraft.

Sikorsky S-55 Horse, RCAF H-19 Chickasaw Helicopter (15), (Serial Nos. 9597, 9598, 9599, 9600, 9619, 9620, 9621, 9622, 9623, 9624, 9625, 9626, 9627, 9628, 9629), RCN HO4S-2 Sea Horse Helicopter (1), (Serial Nos. 55144), RCN HO4S-3 Sea Horse (12), 55305, 55320, 55867, 55875, 55876, 55877, 55878, 55885, 55886, 55887, 55891, 55892), for a total of 28 helicopters.

The H-19 and HO4S-3 were multi-purpose utility helicopters flown by the RCAF and RCN.  The HO4S-2 was an air-sea rescue version powered by an R-1340 engine, derated to 550 hp (410 kW).  Three were built for the RCN, and two surviving helicopters were subsequently converted to HO4S-3 standard, powered by a 700 hp (522 kW) Wright R-1300-3 engine.

(NAFMC Photo)

Sikorsky HO4S-3, RCN (Coded 875), No. 3, with an RCAF Vertol CH-113A Labrador (Serial No. 10405), Goose Bay, Labrador. A row of USAF SAC Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers is visible at Goose Air Base (USAF side of Goose Bay), ca June 1967. The helicopters were there to support the suppression of forest fires.

(Author Photo)

Sikorsky HO4S-3, RCN (Coded 885), Shearwater Aviation Museum

(RCAF Photo)

Sikorsky (S-55) H-19 RCAF (Serial No. 9629) of No. 108 Communications Flight over a flightline with Avro CF-100 Canucks.

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(DND Photo via Francois Dutil)

Sikorsky CH-126 Choctaw Helicopter, RCAF (Serial No. 9632) and Vertol Canada CH-125 Workhorse, RCAF (Serial No. 9639).

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Sikorsky CH-126 Choctaw

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Sikorsky CH-126 Choctaw Helicopters, RCAF (Serial No. 9630) and (Serial No. 9631), (H-34A) of No. 108 (Communications) Squadron on a ramp with a TCA hangar in the background, c1956.

Sikorsky S-58, RCAF H-34A, CH-126 Choctaw Helicopter (8), (Serial Nos. 9630-9635)

          The S-58, also known as the H-34A is a much larger helicopter than the H-19, powered by a nose-mounted Wright R-1820-84engine.  CH-126 Choctaw helicopters were used by RCAF No. 448 Squadron for Search and Rescue operations.  The H-34A was flown by many nations in many different roles, including as a utility transport, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and VIP transport.   The transport versions could carry 12 to 16troops, or eight stretcher cases, while VIP transports carried significantly fewer people in significantly greater comfort. The H-34 was built in the UK and designated the “Wessex,” a helicopter used by members of the Canadian Airborne Regiment for parachuting with the UN in Cyprus. (Wikipedia)

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Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone

(USN Photo, Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Santiago Navarro)

HMCS Winnipeg’s embarked Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter departs the flight deck during cross-deck landing training aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG67) during Keen Sword 21, on 31 Oct 2020.

Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone Helicopter (28), (Serial Nos. 148801-148828).

The Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is a twin-engine, multi-role shipboard helicopter developed for the Canadian Forces.  It is a military variant of the Sikorsky S-92 and is designed for shipboard operations, replacing the venerable CH-124 Sea King, which has been in operation since 1963. The Cyclone is operational with the RCAF and will conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surveillance, and search and rescue missions from RCN warships.  The Cyclone will also provide tactical transport for operations supporting national and international security efforts. (Wikipedia)

(DND Photos)
Clockwise from top left: Capt Kevin Hagen, Sub-Lt Abbigail Cowbrough, CaptBrenden Ian MacDonald, MCpl. Matthew Cousins, Sub-Lt Matthew Pyke, Capt MaximeMiron-Morin.

29 Apr 2020. Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter (Serial No. 148822), "Stalker 22" crashed in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Greece while operating from HMCS Fredericton as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2.  The accident killed six passengers and aircrew in the most unfortunate single-day loss of life in the CAF since the Afghan war.  At the time of the accident, HMCS Fredericton and Stalker 22 were operating alongside Turkish and Italian Allies, conducting maritime surveillance operations and passing information between the ships and helicopter.  

The following Canadian Armed Forces members were tragically killed in the crash: Captain Brenden MacDonald, Pilot, from New Glasgow, NS. Captain Kevin Hagen, Pilot, from Nanaimo, BC. Captain Maxime Miron-Morin, Air Combat Systems Officer, from Trois-Rivières, QC. Master Corporal Matthew Cousins, Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator, from Guelph, ON. Sub-Lieutenant Matthew Pyke, Naval Warfare Officer, from Truro, NS. Sub-Lieutenant Abbigail Cowbrough, Marine Systems Engineering Officer, from Toronto, ON.

(CAF Photo)

Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone (Serial No. 148822), onboard HMCS Toronto, with the crew conducting foc’sle transfer training during Operation REASSURANCE, 20 Apr 2019.

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