Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Summary
Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard
The HH-52 was the U.S. Coast Guard’s first turbine-powered helicopter and the first that could land in the water next to vessels or personnel in distress without using awkward floats, making it the most effective air-sea rescue helicopter of its time. The Coast Guard operated ninety-nine HH-52s between 1962 and 1989, saving 15,000 lives.
The Coast Guard acquired this HH-52 (#1426) in 1967 and operated it until 1989, accumulating 12,618 hours. Its notable missions included a January 27, 1967 nighttime sailboat rescue that resulted in a Distinguished Flying Cross for the pilot and a mention in LIFE magazine. 1426’s most dramatic rescue occurred on November 1, 1979, when it rescued twenty-two survivors from a fiery collision of an oil tanker and freighter off Galveston, Texas. During the mission, it lifted twelve crewmen at one time from the inferno – a record for the aircraft, designed only to carry a maximum of ten, including crew, in the cabin.
Transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard
Rotor Diameter: 16.16 m (53 ft 0 in)
Length: 13.58 m (44 ft 7 in)
Height:4.33 m (14 ft 3 in)
Weight:Empty, 2,306kg (5,083 lb)
Gross, 3,674 kg (8,100 lb)
Engine:General Electric T58-GE-8, de-rated to 1,250 shp
Top Speed:175 km/h (109 mph)
Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 1966
Credit Line
Transferred from the United States Coast Guard
Inventory Number
A20160034000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
CRAFT-Rotary Wing
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station
Modern Military Aviation
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A20160034000
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9a41ade50-3270-4d82-955c-f7e2fcae010f
Side view of an orange and white helicopter. The number 1426, Coast Guard Houston, and a red white and blue star logo are all on the side of the helicopter.
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Side view of an orange and white helicopter. The number 1426, Coast Guard Houston, and a red white and blue star logo are all on the side of the helicopter.
Front view of an orange and white helicopter. Two black and white tear-shaped structures sit above the wheels, and USCG is written on the bottom of the helicopter in black.
Close up view of a helicopter cockpit. Two orange seats with brown seat belts sit behind the black dashboard, and a joystick is in front of each seat.
Angled side view of an orange and white helicopter. There is a large tear-shaped structure above one of the landing wheels, a black and yellow emergency rescue sign is on the side of the nose, and there are three massive black blades on the top of the helicopter.
Close up view of the helicopter's interior. Three red cloth seats are on the left, while an orange seat is on the right. The interior walls are white and gray.
Side view of an orange and white helicopter suspended from a white ceiling. A white netlike structure with two orange circles on it extends from the bottom of the helicopter. The door to the inside is open.
Side view of an orange and white helicopter suspended from a white ceiling. A white netlike structure with two orange circles on it extends from the bottom of the helicopter. The door to the inside is open.
Side view of an orange and white helicopter suspended from a white ceiling. A white netlike structure with two orange circles on it extends from the bottom of the helicopter. The door to the inside is open.
Side view of an orange and white helicopter. 1426 is written on the top in black, Coast Guard Houston is written on the tail in black, and a red, white, and blue star logo is underneath the four windows on the side.