The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine
helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which Lift (force), lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning Helicopter rotor, rotors. This allows the helicopter to VTOL, take off and land vertically, to hover (helicopter), hover, and ...
used in transport or
search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
roles. A developed version of the
S-61 (the SH-3 Sea King), the S-61R was also built under license by
Agusta
Agusta was an Italian helicopter manufacturer. It was based in Samarate, Northern Italy. The company was founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923, who flew his first aeroplane in 1907. The MV Agusta motorcycle manufacturer began as an offshoot ...
as the AS-61R. The S-61R served in the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
as the CH-3C/E Sea King and the HH-3E Jolly Green Giant, and with the
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...
as the HH-3F, nicknamed "Pelican".
[United States Department of Defense. ''DOD 4120.15-L Model Designation of Military Aircraft, Rockets, and Guided Missiles''. Washington, DC: Department of Defense, 1974. p. A-40; 1998. p. A-43; 2004. p. 43.]
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.
The S-61R is recognized for its Search and Rescue and cargo hauling abilities.
Development

The
Sikorsky
Sikorsky or Sikorski may refer to:
* Sikorsky (comics), a Marvel Comics character
* Sikorsky (crater), a lunar crater
* Sikorsky Aircraft, an American aircraft manufacturer
People with the surname
* Brian Sikorski (born 1974), Major League Basebal ...
S-61R was developed as a derivative of their S-61/SH-3 Sea King model. It features a substantially revised fuselage with a rear loading ramp, a conventional, though watertight, hull instead of the S-61's boat-hull, and retractable tricycle landing gear. The fuselage layout was used by Sikorsky for the larger
CH-53
The CH-53 Sea Stallion (Sikorsky S-65) is a family of American heavy-lift transport helicopters designed and built by the American manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. The Sea Stallion was originally developed in response to a request from the Unite ...
variants, and by the much later (though similarly sized)
S-92.
In 1957, Sikorsky engineers were working on a new model for the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
to replace the
HUS-1
The Sikorsky H-34 (company designation S-58) is an American Reciprocating engine, piston-engined military utility helicopter originally designed by Sikorsky Aircraft, Sikorsky as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft for the United States ...
s, used for anti-submarine warfare. Designated the HSS-2 (Helicopter, anti-Submarine, Sikorsky) under
the old designation system, this helicopter would enter service as the SH-3 Sea King under
the new tri-service designation system. On 9 January 1958, General
Randolph M. Pate,
Commandant of the Marine Corps Commandant of the Marine Corps may refer to:
* Commandant of the Marine Corps (Indonesia)
* Commandant of the Netherlands Marine Corps
* Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps
* Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps
* Commandant of th ...
, wrote to the
Chief of Naval Operations
The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an Admiral (United States), admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the United States Secretary ...
(CNO) requesting procurement of modified HSS-2s to replace the Marines'
HUS-1 helicopters.
General Pate recommended that the transport version be designated the HR3S (Helicopter, Transport-3-Sikorsky).
[ Funds for aircraft procurement were short in 1958 and progress on the design of the HR3S was slow. Detailed specifications for the new helicopter were published by CNO on 7 March 1960. Four items were specified:
* a rear loading ramp
* fuselage capable of landing in water
* ready for operational evaluation by 1963
* a modification of a helicopter that had already been developed
While the design of the assault transport version was in final review, the HSS-2 was being tested. Problems were encountered with its stability and the main transmission was limited to 2,000 horsepower, even though at peak power the engines could produce more. In July 1959, before the selection of the HR3S, ]Vertol Aircraft Corporation
The Piasecki Helicopter Corporation was an American designer and manufacturer of helicopters in Philadelphia and nearby Morton, Pennsylvania, in the late 1940s and the 1950s. Its founder, Frank Piasecki, was ousted in 1956 and started a new ...
had given presentations to the Marines of their new model, the 107A, and in late March 1960, with Sikorsky engineers still wrestling with problems in the HSS-2 and designing a ramp for the HR3S, Vertol dispatched a YHC-1A (an early prototype of the 107) to the Landing Force Development Center at Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico (commonly abbreviated MCB Quantico) is a United States Marine Corps installation located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly of southern Prince William County, Virginia, northern Stafford County, and southe ...
, for assessment by six Marine pilots.[ The Marine assessment endorsed the acquisition of the Vertol 107M. On 20 February 1962, the Marines selected the Vertol 107M as the winner of the HRX competition, and it entered Marine service as the CH-46 Sea Knight.][
]
Notwithstanding the loss of the HRX competition, Sikorsky built an S-61R prototype as a private venture, with its first flight in 1963. During its development, the US Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
placed an order for the aircraft, which was designated CH-3C using the new system. The Air Force used the CH-3C to recover downed pilots. The CH-3E variant with more powerful engines would follow in 1965.[Apostolo, Giorgio. "Sikorsky S-61R". ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters''. New York: Bonanza Books. 1984. .]
The improved HH-3E variant would follow later, with eight built, and with all 50 CH-3Es converted to this standard. Known as the ''Jolly Green Giant'' (because of its size and olive green
Olive is a dark yellowish-green color, like that of unripe or green olives.
As a color word in the English language, it appears in late Middle English.
Variations
Olivine
Olivine is the typical color of the mineral olivine.
The first re ...
color scheme; alluding to the Jolly Green Giant
Green Giant and Le Sueur (spelled Le Sieur in Canada) are brands of frozen and canned vegetables owned by B&G Foods. The company's mascot is the Jolly Green Giant.
Company and brand history
The Minnesota Valley Canning Company was founded ...
company mascot), the HH-3E featured protective armor, self-sealing tanks, a retractable inflight refueling probe, jettisonable external tanks, a high-speed hoist, and other specialized equipment.
In 1965, the U.S. Coast Guard ordered a version designated HH-3F Sea King (more commonly known by its nickname "Pelican") for all-weather air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue (ASR or A/SR, also known as sea-air rescue), and aeronautical and maritime search and rescue (AMSAR) by the ICAO and International Maritime Organization, IMO, is the coordinated search and rescue (SAR) of the survivors of emergenc ...
.[ The Pelican featured search radar with a nose antenna radome offset to port,] and water landing capability.[
Italian Agusta built a S-61R variant under license, named AS-61R. Agusta produced 22 helicopters for the Italian Air Force.][ The company claimed it could re-open the production line in 36 months to build additional AS-61 helicopters.][Donald, David, ed. "Sikorsky S-61". ''The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''. Barnes & Noble Books, 1997. .]
Operational service
United States
USAF variants served in numerous air rescue squadrons and aerospace rescue and recovery squadrons of the Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command (MAC) is an inactive United States Air Force major command (MAJCOM) that was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Established on 1 January 1966, MAC was the primary strategic airlift organization of ...
(MAC), rescue squadrons of the Air Combat Command
The Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the prim ...
(ACC) and other USAF major commands worldwide. The aircraft was also used by a number of Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a MAJCOM, major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of ...
and Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
rescue squadrons. All USAF HH-3Es, to include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, were retired in the 1990s and replaced by the current HH-60G Pavehawk.
The HH-3F Pelican was a dependable workhorse for the US Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, mi ...
from the late 1960s until it was phased out in the late 1990s. All USCG HH-3Fs were replaced by the HH-60J Jayhawk
The Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk is a multi-mission, twin-engine, medium-range helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft and operated by the United States Coast Guard for various missions including search and rescue, law enforcement, military readines ...
and those aircraft have since been upgraded to the MH-60T Jayhawk version.
Transatlantic flight
Between 31 May and 1 June 1967, two HH-3Es of the United States Air Force made the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by helicopter. Departing from New York in the early hours, the two helicopters arrived at the 1967 Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show (, ''Salon du Bourget'') is a trade fair and air show held in odd years at Paris–Le Bourget Airport in France. Organized by the French aerospace industry's primary representative body, the ''Groupement des industries frança ...
at Le Bourget after a 30 hr 46 min flight. The operation needed nine in-flight refuelings. Both helicopters were later lost in combat operations in Southeast Asia in 1969 and 1970.
Italy
Agusta
Agusta was an Italian helicopter manufacturer. It was based in Samarate, Northern Italy. The company was founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923, who flew his first aeroplane in 1907. The MV Agusta motorcycle manufacturer began as an offshoot ...
began production in 1974 and delivered 22 helicopters as replacements for the Grumman HU-16 Albatross
The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large, twin-radial engined amphibious flying boat that was used by the United States Air Force (USAF), the U.S. Navy (USN), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and the Royal Canadian Air Force primarily as a search and ...
used for SAR (Search and Rescue) missions at sea. Italian Air Force AS-61R helicopters performed SAR missions under designation HH-3F in time of peace and C/SAR (Combat SAR) in time of crisis or during military assignment. All helicopters were operated by the five flights of the 15° Stormo ''Stefano Cagna'' and deployed in four bases across Italy.
In Italian Service the HH-3F replaced HU-16 seaplanes.
From 1993 15° Stormo performed support missions to evacuate civilians during natural catastrophes and disasters in Italy. 15º Stormo was also engaged with SAR missions in the hostile zones of the several operations abroad where Italian Armed Forces were deployed - Somalia, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Italian Air Force phased out the HH-3F on 26 September 2014, replacing them with the AgustaWestland AW139
The AgustaWestland AW139, now known as the Leonardo AW139, is a 15-seat medium-sized twin-engined helicopter developed and produced by the Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, now part of Leonardo. It is marketed at several differ ...
in the SAR role.
In November 2024, Clayton International purchased 26 retired Italian S-61R helicopters.
Commercial service
In 2016 a S-61R crashed in Palm Bay Florida, about 15 minutes after taking off.
Variants
;S-61R
:Military transport helicopter, Sikorsky model number.
;HR3S-1
:Proposed transport helicopter for U.S. Marine Corps, cancelled
;S-61R-10
:Prototype operated by Sikorsky and first flown 17 June 1963.
;S-61R-12
:One aircraft for the Argentine Air Force to HH-3F standards.
;CH-3C
:Long-range military transport helicopter for the US Air Force, 75 built.
;CH-3E
:Long-range military transport helicopter for the US Air Force. 41 converted from CH-3C, plus 45 newly manufactured.
;HH-3E Jolly Green Giant
:Long-range search and rescue helicopter for the US Air Force, 50 converted from CH-3E.["Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant."](_blank)
'National Museum of the US Air Force.'' Retrieved: 21 June 2017.
;MH-3E
:Special Operations version for the US Air Force.
;VH-3E
:US Air Force VIP transport helicopter.
;HH-3F "Pelican"
:Long-range search and rescue helicopter for the US Coast Guard, 40 built.
;AS-61R (HH-3F Pelican)
:Long-range search and rescue helicopter built since 1974 under license in Italy by Agusta, 22 built.
Operators

Civil
;
* Croman Helicopters
* Erickson Erickson may refer to:
Places Canada
* Erickson, British Columbia, an unincorporated area
*Erickson, Manitoba
Erickson is an unincorporated urban community in the Municipality of Clanwilliam – Erickson within the Canadian province of Manitoba ...
Military
;
* Tunisian Air Force
The Tunisian Air Force (, ) is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.
History
The Tunisian Air Force was established in 1959, three years after Tunisia regained its independence from France. It took deliveries of its first aircraft ...
Former
;
* Argentine Air Force
The Argentine Air Force (, or simply ''FAA'') is the air force of Argentina and one of three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic. In 2018, it had 13,837 military and 6,900 civilian personnel. FAA commander in chief is Brigadie ...
;
* Italian Air Force
The Italian Air Force (; AM, ) is the air force of the Italy, Italian Republic. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923 by Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, King Victor Emmanuel III as the ("Royal Air Force ...
;
* San Bernardino County Sheriff
* United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
* United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...
Aircraft on display
Argentina
* H-02 – S-61R on static display at the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica in Morón, Buenos Aires
Morón () is a city in the Argentine province of Buenos Aires, capital of the Morón ''partido'', located in the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area, at . Located 20 km (13 mi) west of Downtown Buenos Aires, Morón i ...
. It was formerly used as a presidential helicopter.
United States
* 44010 – CH-3C in storage at Yanks Air Museum
The Yanks Air Museum is an aviation museum dedicated to exhibiting, preserving and restoring American aircraft and artifacts in order to show the evolution of American aviation, located at Chino Airport in Chino, California.
History
A pair of F ...
in Chino, California
Chino ( ; Spanish for "Curly") is a city in the western end of San Bernardino County, California, United States, with Los Angeles County to its west and Orange County to its south in the Southern California region.
Chino's surroundings ha ...
.
* 62-12581 – CH-3C on static display at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum
The Air Force Flight Test Museum is an aviation museum located at Edwards Air Force Base near Rosamond, California focused on the history of the Air Force Flight Test Center.
History
The Flight Test Museum Foundation was founded in 1983 by Caro ...
at Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation in California. Most of the base sits in Kern County, California, Kern County, but its eastern end is in San Bernardino County, California, San Bernardino County and a souther ...
near Rosamond, California
Rosamond is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California, US, near the Los Angeles county line. Rosamond is part of Greater Los Angeles and is located in the Mojave Desert just north of Lancaster and Palmdale, the two largest cities in ...
.
* 63-9676 – CH-3E in storage at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is ...
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place just east of Dayton, Ohio, in Greene County, Ohio, Greene and Montgomery County, Ohio, Montgomery counties. It includes both Wright and Patte ...
in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton () is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Dayton metro ...
.
* 65-5690 – CH-3E on static display at the Aerospace Museum of California
The Aerospace Museum of California is a private non-profit aviation museum located in McClellan, California, outside of Sacramento, California, on the grounds of the former McClellan Air Force Base.
History
Founded as the Air Force Logistics Mus ...
at Sacramento McClellan Airport (former McClellan AFB) in Sacramento, California
Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat, seat of Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento Rive ...
.
* 64-14232 – H-3E on static display at Kirtland Air Force Base
Kirtland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base. It is located in the southeast quadrant of the Albuquerque, New Mexico, urban area, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. The base was named for the early Army aviator C ...
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...
.
* 65-12784 – HH-3E on static display at the Air Park at Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field is a United States Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation and is home to Headquarters Air Force S ...
in Mary Esther, Florida
Mary Esther is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Crestview, Florida, Crestview–Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Fort Walton Beach–Destin, Florida Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Dest ...
.
* 65-12797 – CH-3E on static display at the Carolinas Aviation Museum
The Sullenberger Aviation Museum, formerly the Carolinas Aviation Museum, is an aviation museum on the grounds of Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina.
It is one of a few aviation museums located at an airport ...
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...
.
* 66-13290 – HH-3E on static display at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, New York
Westhampton is a Hamlet (New York), hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Suffolk County, New York, Suffolk County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 3,079 at the 2010 census.
Westhampton is in the Administrative ...
. It is the aircraft in which Leland T. Kennedy earned the first of his two Air Force Crosses.
* 67-14703 – HH-3E on static display at the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force installation located in Houston County, Georgia, Houston County, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, Warner Robins, south-southea ...
in Warner Robins, Georgia
Warner Robins (WRB; typically ) is a city in Houston County, Georgia, Houston and Peach County, Georgia, Peach Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the state's Georgia (U.S. state)#Major cities, 11th-largest incorpo ...
.
* 67-14709 – HH-3E on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
* USCG 1476 – HH-3F on static display at the Pima Air and Space Museum
The Pima Air & Space Museum is an aerospace museum in Tucson, Arizona, US. It features a display of nearly 400 aircraft spread out over on a campus occupying . It has also been the home to the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame since 1991.
Overvi ...
adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...
.
* USCG 1484 – HH-3F on static display at Winvian Farm in Morris, Connecticut
Morris is a New England town, town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,256 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region, C ...
. It is incorporated into a guest bedroom.
* USCG 1486 – HH-3F on static display at the National Naval Aviation Museum
The National Naval Aviation Museum, formerly known as the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Naval Aviation Museum, is a military and aerospace museum located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.
Founded in 1962 and moved to its cur ...
at Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola (formerly NAS/KNAS until changed circa 1970 to allow Nassau International Airport, now Lynden Pindling International Airport, to have IATA code NAS), "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United Sta ...
in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola ( ) is a city in the Florida panhandle in the United States. It is the county seat and only incorporated city, city in Escambia County, Florida, Escambia County. The population was 54,312 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...
.
Specifications (HH-3E)
See also
References
External links
Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant
– National Museum of the United States Air Force
The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is ...
Sikorsky products
an
HELIS.com Sikorsky S-61/H-3/HSS-2 Database
{{Authority control
United States military helicopters
Amphibious helicopters
Search and rescue helicopters
1960s United States helicopters
Twin-turbine helicopters
Aircraft first flown in 1959
S-61R
Sikorsky S-61