HH-3 Jolly Green Giant
Summary
| Category | Military Helicopters |
| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky |
| First flight | 17 June 1963 |
| Year introduced | 1963 |
| Number produced | 181 units |
Technical specifications
| Version: HH-3E | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
| Operational range | 1,443 km (897 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 265 km/h (165 mph) |
| Wing area | 280.5 m² (3019.3 sqft) |
| Wingspan | 19 m (62.3 ft) |
| Height | 5.5 m (18.1 ft) |
| Length | 22 m (72.2 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 6,400 m (20,997 ft) |
| Empty weight | 6,051 kg (13,340 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 10,002 kg (22,051 lbs) |
| Climb rate | 11.3 m/s (37.1 ft/s) |
| Powerplant | 2 x General Electric T58-GE-10 delivering 500 kW each |
Current operating countries
All operators
Description
The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine helicopter developed as a derivative of the S-61/SH-3 Sea King for transport and search and rescue (SAR) roles. It features a revised fuselage with a rear loading ramp, a watertight hull, and retractable tricycle landing gear. This fuselage configuration was later utilized for the larger CH-53 variants and the S-92. Sikorsky produced the S-61R prototype as a private venture, with its first flight occurring on June 17, 1963. The United States Air Force (USAF) subsequently ordered the type as the CH-3C.
The HH-3E Jolly Green Giant variant is equipped with specialized systems for combat recovery, including protective armor, self-sealing fuel tanks, and a retractable inflight refueling probe. It utilizes jettisonable external tanks and a high-speed hoist. Power is provided by two General Electric T58-GE-10 turboshaft engines, each producing 1,400 shp. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) version, the HH-3F Pelican, incorporates search radar with a nose antenna radome offset to port and maintains water landing capability. Armament is limited to door guns on specific variants.
Between May 31 and June 1, 1967, two USAF HH-3Es performed the first nonstop transatlantic helicopter flight, traveling from New York to Paris in 30 hours and 46 minutes with nine in-flight refuelings. Both aircraft were later lost during combat operations in Southeast Asia. The USAF retired the HH-3E in the 1990s, replacing it with the HH-60G Pavehawk. The USCG operated 40 HH-3F Pelicans from the late 1960s until the late 1990s, when they were replaced by the HH-60J Jayhawk.
Agusta manufactured 22 AS-61R helicopters under license for the Italian Air Force. These aircraft served with the 15° Stormo in SAR and Combat SAR roles, deploying for missions in Somalia, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Italy phased out the HH-3F in 2014. Other operators have included the Tunisian Air Force and the Argentine Air Force, the latter of which used the S-61R as a presidential transport.
Main Variants
- CH-3C: Initial military transport version for the USAF powered by two 1,050 shp T58-GE-1 engines.
- CH-3E: Improved transport version for the USAF equipped with 1,500 shp T58-GE-5 engines.
- HH-3E Jolly Green Giant: Long-range, air-refuellable search and rescue helicopter for the USAF featuring protective armor and a high-speed hoist.
- HH-3F Pelican: Long-range search and rescue version for the USCG equipped with search radar and water landing capability.
- AS-61R: License-built version of the S-61R produced by Agusta for the Italian Air Force.