View source for Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe

{{short description|American twin-engine heavy-lift helicopter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= CH-54 Tarhe
 |image= File:Sikorsky Skycrane carrying parachute bomb c.jpg
 |caption= A CH-54A carrying a [[BLU-82|"Daisy Cutter" parachute bomb]]
 |type= Heavy-lift [[military transport aircraft|cargo helicopter]]
 |manufacturer= [[Sikorsky Aircraft]]
[[Erickson Inc.|Erickson]] (1992-)
 |designer=
 |first_flight= 9 May 1962
 |introduction=
 |retired= 1970s (US Army) <br /> 1993 (National Guard)<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/>
 |status= Retired
 |primary_user= [[United States Army]]
 |more_users= <!--up to three more. please separate with <br />.-->
 |produced=<!--years in production, e.g. 1970–1999, if still in active use but no longer built-->
 |number_built= 105
 |unit cost=
 |developed_from=
 |variants= [[S-64 Skycrane]]
 |developed_into =
}}

The '''Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe''' is an American twin-engine heavy-lift [[helicopter]] designed by [[Sikorsky Aircraft]] for the [[United States Army]]. It is named after [[Tarhe]], an 18th-century chief of the [[Wyandot people|Wyandot]] Indian tribe whose nickname was "The Crane".<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Tarhe?rec=371 |title = Tarhe |website = Ohio History Central}}</ref> The civilian version is the [[Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane]].

== Development ==
[[File:Sikorsky Skycrane carrying 2 Hueys c.jpg|thumb|right|A CH-54A Tarhe carrying a pair of [[UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1 Huey]] [[utility helicopter]]s]]
[[File:CH54B and M551 Sheridan.jpg|thumb|right|CH-54B carrying an [[M551 Sheridan]] tank, [[Redstone Arsenal]], Alabama]]
[[File:Sikorsky Skycrane CH-54B c.jpg|thumb|Sikorsky Skycrane CH-54B with landing gear modified for soft ground.]]
Work on what would become the CH-54 can be traced back to Sikorsky's earlier activities with "sky-crane" [[helicopter]]s, particularly the [[piston engine|piston-engined]] [[Sikorsky S-60]] of the late 1950s. Following the end of the [[Korean War]], the [[United States Army]] sought to procure a successor to the [[Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave]], an early piston-engined heavy lift helicopter; being aware of this need, Sikorsky were keen to fulfill it.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> The company was already working on the [[Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane]], a civil-orientated heavy lift rotorcraft that was designed specifically for the purpose of carrying large payloads externally; the development of a military-configured derivative was viewed as a natural option. While Sikorsky were quick to recognise the advantages of adopting [[turboshaft]] propulsion, there were no suitable engines of that type initially available, thus it had to work with the American engine manufacturer [[Pratt and Whitney]] to modify their [[Pratt & Whitney JT12|JT12]] [[turbojet]] to produce one.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/>

One innovative feature for any helicopter of the era was the incorporation of an automatic [[flight control system]], effectively a [[fly-by-wire]] arrangement.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> This feature enabled the aft-facing crew member to control the rotorcraft's [[Aircraft principal axes#Transverse axis (pitch)|pitch]], [[Aircraft principal axes#Longitudinal axis (roll)|roll]], and [[Aircraft principal axes#Vertical axis (yaw)|yaw]] with 10% control authority, along with an altitude-hold function; it was also praised for being relatively easy to fly under [[instrument flight rules]] (IFR).<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> Considerable attention was paid to the fuselage's design, particularly to minimising weight and maintenance requirements. The [[landing gear]] was designed to kneel to make loading easier as well as to ease operations from sloped surfaces.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> From the onset, Sikorsky sought to enable the type to carry as diverse a range of cargoes as possible, leading to the incorporation of fitting for the carriage of [[barge]]s and of a specially designed multipurpose "people pod" that was suited for use for personnel transport, [[paratroop]] operations, and even as a mobile hospital or mobile command post.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/><ref name = "sikorsky 95">Sikorsky 2007, p. 95.</ref>

On 9 May 1962, the first of three prototypes performed its [[maiden flight]].<ref name="Janes 76 p386">Taylor 1976, p. 386.</ref> It was subsequently tested by the US Army at [[Fort Benning]] while the other two underwent an evaluation in [[West Germany]].<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> During June 1963, it was announced that the US Army had placed an order for an initial six helicopters, designating it as the ''CH-54A''; the first of these was officially accepted on 30 June 1963.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> Following a relatively brief period of testing and evaluation, the CH-54 was quickly put into active use in Vietnam.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/>

Early on, the type had demonstrated itself to possess unrivalled performance in some aspects. {{asof|2014}}, it continues to hold the helicopter record for highest altitude in level flight at {{cvt|11000|m|ft}}, which it set in 1971,<ref name=alt11>{{cite web |url = http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9918 |title = FAI Record ID #9918 – Altitude in horizontal flight. Class E-1 (Helicopters), turbine |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150105140344/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9918 |archive-date = 5 January 2015 |publisher = [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref> as well at the fastest climb to 3,000,<ref name=climb3>{{cite web |url = http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9942 |title = FAI Record ID #9942 – Time to climb to a height of 3 000&nbsp;m. Class E-1 (Helicopters), turbine |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150623231216/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9942 |archive-date = 23 June 2015 |publisher = [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref> 6,000,<ref name=climb6>{{cite web |url = http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9957 |title = FAI Record ID #9957 – Time to climb to a height of 6 000&nbsp;m. Class E-1 (Helicopters), turbine |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150623233736/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9957 |archive-date = 23 June 2015 |publisher = [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref> and 9,000&nbsp;m<ref name=climb9>{{cite web |url = http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9960 |title = FAI Record ID #9960 – Time to climb to a height of 9 000&nbsp;m. Class E-1 (Helicopters), turbine |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150624013349/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9960 |archive-date = 24 June 2015 |publisher = [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref> (10,000, 20,000, and 30,000&nbsp;ft). On 20 April 1965, a CH-54A equipped with a people pod lifted 90 people, comprising its crew of 3 and 87 combat-equipped troops; this was the largest number of people to be lifted by a single helicopter at that time.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/>

==Operational history==
The United States Army would ultimately procure 105 examples, which it operated under the designation of ''CH-54 Tarhe''. It was most prolifically used during the [[Vietnam War]], typically to provide logistical support and heavy transport activities in aid of American ground troops. In the theater, CH-54s would routinely be used to reposition artillery pieces such as the [[M101 howitzer]], and even airlift bulky payloads such as [[bulldozer]]s and [[patrol boat]]s.<ref>Wiest and McNab 2015, pp. 90, 95.</ref><ref>Wise 2010, pp. 85–86.</ref> In terms of retrieved aircraft alone, in excess of 380 were reportedly recovered via CH-54, resulting in the saving of several hundred million dollars.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/><ref name = "sikorsky 95"/>

In particular, those forces operating in and around the [[Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone|Demilitarized Zone]] (DMZ) between [[North Vietnam]] and [[South Vietnam]] were unable to rely on ground supply routes due to the unavoidable challenges posed by the local geography; instead, they were almost entirely dependent on air support provided by rotorcraft such as the CH-54.<ref>Wiest and McNab 2015, p. 92.</ref> The type would operate so close to the frontlines that several would come under fire from the North Vietnamese.<ref>Wise 2010, p. 88.</ref><ref name = "boyne 146">Boyne 2011, p. 146.</ref> One unusual use of the type came under the ''Combat Trap'' programme, which saw it drop 10,000&nbsp;lb bombs, intended for clearing landing zones.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> One danger that its crews had to maintain awareness of was the strong downwash generated by the rotors; nearby tents were particularly at risk of being blown away.<ref>Tucker 2011, p. 470.</ref>

As a heavy transport helicopter, capable of retrieving numerous types of downed aircraft, it proved to be highly successful. The Tarhe can hold its cargo up and tight against its center spine to lessen drag and eliminate the pendulum effect when flying forward, as well as winch vehicles up and down from a hovering position, so the helicopter can deploy loads while hovering. Due to budget cuts, the [[Sikorsky S-73|Heavy Lift Helicopter]] (HLH) program was canceled and the CH-54 was not upgraded with larger engines. The relatively small fleet proved costly to maintain, thus the tandem-rotor [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook]], a rival heavy lift helicopter, gradually supplemented the CH-54 for most transport duties, eventually replacing it in Regular Army aviation units during the 1980s. Another heavy lift helicopter, the [[Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion]], had also been developed using many of the proven systems of the CH-54, including its engine, fuselage, and dynamic systems.<ref name = "boyne 2767">Boyne 2011, pp. 276–277.</ref>

The CH-54 was also operated by the [[Army National Guard]], where it performed a variety of military and civilian missions.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> It participated in various humanitarian relief operations, including the rescuing of a [[whale]] in [[Alaska]]. Unusual payloads include whole antenna towers and [[log cabin]]s; another example was the use of a CH-54 to airlift [[air conditioner]]s onto the roof of the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]].<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> Furthermore, it was commonly tasked with relocating non-airworthy or retired aircraft. Despite these atypical demands, the CH-54 achieved a strong safety record.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> The military cutbacks enacted at the end of the [[Cold War]] proved to be the death knell for the CH-54's military service; the final National Guard flight was conducted on 10 January 1993.<ref name = "Chandler 1994">{{cite journal |last = Chandler |first = James T |title = And then there were none! |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UHdWAAAAMAAJ&dq=Sikorsky+CH-54+Tarhe&pg=RA5-PA44 |journal = United States Army Aviation Digest |publisher = U.S. Government Printing Office |date = 1994}}</ref>

Following their withdrawal from military use, many CH-54s were acquired by civilian operators and thus continued to be used in this new capacity.<ref name = "Chandler 1994"/> Of these, [[Erickson Air-Crane]] of [[Central Point, Oregon]], operates the largest fleet of S-64 helicopters in the world under the name [[S-64 Skycrane|Erickson S-64 Aircrane]]. These can be equipped with [[Helicopter bucket|water-dropping equipment]] (some also have foam/gel capability) for [[Aerial firefighting|firefighting]] duties worldwide.<ref name = "boyne 336">Boyne 2011, p. 336.</ref> After obtaining the type certificate and manufacturing rights in 1992, Erickson remains the manufacturer.

== Variants ==

;YCH-54A
: Preproduction aircraft, 6 built.<ref name="Harding p243">Harding 1990, p. 243.</ref>
;CH-54A
: Production model powered by two {{convert|4500|shp|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney T73]]-P-1 turboshafts, 54 built.<ref name="Harding p243" />
;CH-54B
: Heavier version of the CH-54A with two {{convert|4800|shp|abbr=on}} T73-P-700 turboshafts and twin-wheeled main undercarriage, 37 ordered, 29 built.<ref>{{cite web |website = Helis.com |url = https://www.helis.com/database/model/670/ |title = CH-54B Tarhe |access-date = 30 July 2017}}</ref><ref name = "Chandler 1994"/>
;S-64B
: In 1968, Sikorsky proposed a three-engined growth version with upgraded rotor and gearbox. This was not proceeded with but did form the basis for the [[CH-53E Super Stallion]].<ref>{{cite web |title = S-64 Skycrane (CH-54 Tarhe) |url = http://www.sikorskyarchives.com/S-64_Product_History%20modX.php |website = sikorskyarchives.com |access-date = 30 July 2017}}</ref>

== Operators ==
[[File:Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe (S-64A), USA - Army AN1532342.jpg|thumb|US Army CH-54A Tarhe (S-64A), 1989]]
;{{USA}}
* [[NASA]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/what-is-a-helicopter-k4.html |title = What Is a Helicopter? |publisher = nasa.gov |access-date = 26 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://rotored.arc.nasa.gov/activity/skycrane.html |title = Sikorsky CH – 54B Skycrane Helicopter |publisher = nasa.gov |access-date = 26 January 2013 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130216201257/http://rotored.arc.nasa.gov/activity/skycrane.html |archive-date = 16 February 2013}}</ref>
* [[United States Army]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.military-today.com/helicopters/ch_54_tarhe.htm |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130216112337/http://www.military-today.com/helicopters/ch_54_tarhe.htm |url-status = usurped |archive-date = 16 February 2013 |title = Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe Flying crane |publisher = Military-Today.com |access-date = 26 January 2013}}</ref>
** 273rd Heavy Helicopter Company
** 355th Heavy Helicopter Company
** 478th Heavy Helicopter Company
** 2nd Battalion, 291st Aviation Company
* [[United States Army Reserve]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url = http://www.all-aero.com/index.php/35-helicopters/copters/9824-sikossky-s-64-skycrane-ch-54-tarhe |title = Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane / Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe |website = all-aero.com}}</ref>
* [[Army National Guard]]
**  Company D, 113th Aviation, [[152nd Airlift Wing]], [[Nevada National Guard|Nevada ARNG]] 1986–1993 (received CH-54A<ref name="auto" />)<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.airliners.net/search?aircraft=44947&display=detail |title = Aviation Photo Search}}</ref>
** 1160 Aviation Company, [[Georgia Army National Guard|Georgia ARNG]] (received CH-54A<ref name="auto" />)
** 137th Transportation Company (Heavy Helicopter), [[Kansas Army National Guard|Kansas ARNG]] (received CH-54A<ref name="auto" />)
** Company E, [[185th Aviation Brigade (United States)|185th Aviation Brigade]], [[Mississippi Army National Guard|Mississippi ARNG]] (received CH-54A<ref name="auto" />)
** Pennsylvania (received CH-54A<ref name="auto" />)
** Alaska (received CH-54B<ref name="auto" />)
** Alabama (received CH-54B<ref name="auto" />)
** Connecticut (received CH-54B<ref name="auto" />)

== Surviving aircraft ==
[[File:Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe (Skycrane) (40434472933).jpg|thumb|CH-54A Tarhe ("Skycrane") on display]]
{{Main|List of surviving Sikorsky CH-54s}}
A large number of surviving airframes exist in flyable condition as well as in museum collections worldwide.

== Specifications (CH-54B) ==
[[File:Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe Drawing.svg|right|450px|Orthographically projected diagram of the Sikorsky CH-54B Tarhe.]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=<!-- reference -->
|prime units?= kts
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew= 3
|capacity= {{cvt|25000|lb|0}} payload
|length ft= 88
|length in= 6
|length note=
|width ft=<!-- if applicable -->
|width in=<!-- if applicable -->
|width note=
|height ft= 25
|height in= 5
|height note=
|empty weight lb= 19,800
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb= 47,000
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number= 2
|eng1 name= [[Pratt & Whitney T73|Pratt & Whitney T73-P-700]]
|eng1 type= [[turboshaft]] engines
|eng1 shp= 4,800
|eng1 note=

|rot number= 1
|rot dia ft= 72
|rot dia in= 0
|rot area sqft= 4,071.5
|rot area note=
* '''Blade section:''' – [[NACA airfoil|NACA 0011 mod]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1 = Lednicer |first1 = David |title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url = https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website = m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date = 16 April 2019}}</ref>
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kts= 130
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kts= 100
|cruise speed note=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range nmi= 200
|range note=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin= 1,330
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Sikorsky S-60]]
* [[Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane]]
* [[Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook]]
* [[Boeing Vertol XCH-62]]
* [[Mil Mi-10]]
|lists=
* [[List of rotorcraft]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
|see also=
* [[Aerial crane]]
* [[BLU-82]]
}}

== References ==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |first = Walter |last = Boyne |title = How the Helicopter Changed Modern Warfare |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=T3hCO8j9YfAC |publisher = Pelican Publishing |date = 2011 |isbn = 978-1-45561-568-1}}
* {{cite journal |last = Francillon |first = René J. |date = Spring 1991 |title = The Army Guard's Weightlifter |journal = World Air Power Journal |volume = 5 |pages = 36–41 }}
* {{cite book |last = Harding |first = Stephen |title = U.S. Army Aircraft since 1947 |year = 1990 |publisher = Airlife |location = Shrewsbury, UK |isbn = 1-85310-102-8}}
* {{cite book |last = Taylor |first = John W. R. |title = Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976–77 |year = 1976 |publisher = Jane's Yearbooks |location = London, UK |isbn = 0-354-00538-3}}
* {{cite book |first = Sergei I. |last = Sikorsky |title = The Sikorsky Legacy |publisher = Arcadia Publishing |date = 2007 |isbn = 978-0-738-54995-8}}
* {{cite book |first = Spencer C. |last = Tucker |title = The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War |publisher = ABC-CLIO |date = 2011 |isbn = 978-1-851-09961-0}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Wiest |first1 = Andrew |first2 = Chris |last2 = McNab |title = The Illustrated History of the Vietnam War |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=l4J2DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA255 |publisher = Amber Books |date = 2015 |isbn = 978-1-782-74288-3}}
* {{cite book |last = Wise |first = E. Tayloe |title = Eleven Bravo: A Skytrooper's Memoir of War in Vietnam |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=X2tAaY4xPoAC&pg=PA265 |publisher = McFarland |date = 2010 |isbn = 978-0-78648-223-8}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|CH-54 Tarhe (Skycrane)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080506193500/http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/aviation/factsheets/ch54.html CH-54 U.S. Army Aviation history fact sheet]
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.dod.dimoc.26969|name=STAFF FILM REPORT 66-2A (1966)}}
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.dod.dimoc.26972|name=STAFF FILM REPORT 66-21A (1966)}}
* [http://www.helis.com/database/model/61/ HELIS.com Sikorsky S-64/CH-54 Database]

{{Sikorsky Aircraft}}
{{USAF helicopters}}

[[Category:Aerial firefighting helicopters]]
[[Category:Sikorsky aircraft]]
[[Category:Twin-turbine helicopters]]
[[Category:United States military helicopters]]
[[Category:1960s United States military transport aircraft]]
[[Category:1960s United States helicopters]]
[[Category:Modular aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1962]]
[[Category:Military transport helicopters]]