VH-34D Presidential Helicopter Desktop Model

    VH-34D Presidential Helicopter Desktop Model

    Code: NC10222

    Regular Price: $199.95

    Our Price: $159.95

    Quantity in Basket: None

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    Scale: 1/56
    Length: 12"

    The Sikorsky S-58 was developed as essentially a lengthened and more powerful version of the Sikorsky (model S-55) or UH-19 Chickasaw, with a similar nose, but with a tail-dragger rear fuselage and landing gear rather than the high-tail 4 post pattern. It retained the nose-mounted piston engine with the drive shaft passing the cockpit placed high above the cargo compartment.

    Pilots of H-34s in Vietnam service would later discover that some of the design's distinctive features carried penalties. The high cockpit made it an obvious target, and the drive shaft created a partition that made it difficult for crew chiefs to come to the aid of the cockpit crew if they became injured. The H-34's magnesium skin resulted in very intense fires, and contributed to significant corrosion problems. The airframe was also too weak to support most of the weapon systems that allowed the UH-1s to become an effective ad-hoc gunship. Nonetheless, the H-34 demonstrated an ability to sustain a substantial amount of combat damage and still return home.[citation needed]

    The aircraft first flew on 8 March 1954. The first production aircraft was ready in September and entered in service for the US Navy initially designated HSS-1 Seabat (in its anti-submarine configuration) and HUS-1 Seahorse (in its utility transport configuration) under the US Navy designation system for US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard aircraft. The US Army and Marine Corps respectively ordered it in 1955 and 1957. Under the US Army's aircraft designation system, also used by the US Air Force, the helicopter was designated H-34. The US Army also applied the name Choctaw to the helicopter. In 1962, under the new unified DoD aircraft designation system, the Seabat was redesignated SH-34, the Seahorse as the UH-34, and the Choctaw as the CH-34.

    Roles included utility transport, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and VIP transport. In it standard configuration transport versions could carry 12 to 16 troops, or eight stretcher cases if utilized in the MedEvac role, while VIP transports carried significantly fewer people in significantly greater comfort.

    A total of 135 H-34s were built in the U.S. and assembled by Sud-Aviation in France, 166 were produced under licence in France by Sud-Aviation for the French Air Force, Navy and Army Aviation (ALAT).

    The CH-34 was also built and developed under license from 1958 in the United Kingdom by Westland Aircraft as the turbine engined Wessex which was used by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The RN Wessex was fitted out with weapons and ASW equipment for use in an antisubmarine role. The RAF used the Wessex, with turboshaft engines, as an air/sea rescue helicopter and as troop transporter. Wessexes were also exported to other countries and produced for civilian use.