1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. S-52-3: Jon R. Stark· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The Sikorsky S-52 is a utility helicopter developed by Sikorsky Aircraft in the late 1940s. It was used by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The S-52 was the first US helicopter with all-metal rotor blades.
How to recognise it: 1 piston engine · 10.1 m main rotor
base stats
Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).
fun facts
- First flew 79 years ago, in 1947.
- Rotor of 10.1 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.
piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1947-02-12
- introduced
- 1951
- status
- still flying
- number built
- 97
- role
- helicopter
- makers
- Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
- engines
- 1× Franklin 6V6-245-B16F
- length
- 8.4 m
- rotor diameter
- 10.1 m
- height
- 2.6 m
- max take-off weight
- 1,225 kg
- top speed
- 177 km/h
- cruise speed
- 154 km/h
- range
- —
- ceiling
- 4,724 m
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q1439747, Wikipedia: Sikorsky S-52 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.