Sikorsky S-61R

what is it?

The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine helicopter used in transport or search and rescue roles. A developed version of the S-61 (the SH-3 Sea King), the S-61R was also built under license by Agusta as the AS-61R. The S-61R served in the United States Air Force as the CH-3C/E Sea King and the HH-3E Jolly Green Giant, and with the United States Coast Guard as the HH-3F, nicknamed "Pelican". This article covers several different variants of this type in different roles, one major difference of the S-61R compared to the S-61 was a rear ramp.

🔎How to recognise it: 2 turboshaft engines · 18.9 m main rotor

base stats

• speed 265 km/htop speed
• range 1,443 kmwithout refuelling
• seats 28passengers
• size 10 tmax take-off weight

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 67 years ago, in 1959.
• 🏎️Top speed is 2.0× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Rotor of 18.9 m: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🌍Range of 1,443 km: 8× Amsterdam to Brussels.

turboshaft: A turbine that turns a shaft, usually a helicopter rotor.

spec sheet

first flight

1959

introduced

1961

status

still flying

number built

—

role

medium-lift transport/search and rescue (sar) helicopter

makers

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

engines

2× General Electric T58-GE-10

crew

3

passengers

28

length

22.3 m

rotor diameter

18.9 m

height

5.5 m

max take-off weight

10 t

top speed

265 km/h

range

1,443 km

ceiling

6,401 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

family