Jolly Green Giant; big, useful rescue specialist

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE CH/HH-3

Rescue Team. A Jolly Green with an escort of two slow moving, hard hitting sandy A-1s

The Sikorsky CH/HH-3 is based on their S-61 design, and was first developed for the military by the U.S. Navy as the SH-3. The first model for the USAF was the CH-3B which was a modified CH-3C which featured a redesigned rear fuselage incorporating a loading ramp for small vehicles and cargo. Retractable landing gear was added and with the addition of the aft ramp the tail wheel was moved forward and made steerable. The first flight of the CH-3C was on 17 June 1963. Beginning in 1966 all Ch-3C's were modified with the T-58-GE-5 engine which changed their designation to CH-3E and an APU was installed making the CH-3 self-starting. The CH-3 can carry 25 fully equipped troops, but it was best known for use in rescue missions in Vietnam where it gained its nickname the "Jolly Green Giant". Fixed gun mounts were added to the CH-3.

Specifications:

Span: 62' 0" Rotor
Length: 57' 3"
Height: 18' 1"
Weight, Empty, 13,255 lbs.
Weight, Gross, 22,500 lbs.
Maximum Air Speed: 162 MPH
Service Ceiling: 11,100 feet
Range 465 miles
Armament: Two General Electric 7.63mm M60D machine guns

THE BIO-GRAPHICS OF AND A TRIBUTE TO A FORGOTTEN WORKHORSE BY

R. CHRISTOPHER AND J. G. A. SMITH 01 SEPTEMBER 1992

The CH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant was the backbone of air rescue operations for downed pilots. It was capable of air refueling from a tanker-modified C-130 to extend its mission time. It was large and heavy enough that it usually taxied to a runway (given that one was available) and did a rolling takeoff more reminiscent of a fixed wing aircraft than a helicopter. The real purpose of this exercise was to minimize rotor damage caused by the air turbulence characteristic of a vertical takeoff. This picture shows the machine sitting in its protective revetment at Bien Hoa.