CH-54 Tarhe Skycrane

Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe helicopter model. The Sikorsky (model S-64A) CH-54A/CH-54B "Skycrane," manned by a three-person crew, was engineered for the heavy lifting of bulk loads, both internally and externally. It featured a rear-facing pilot's seat for an unobstructed view of the cargo, and a hoist for pickups and deliveries without the need to land. A versatile van (universal pod) could be attached to the fuselage, serving as a mobile command post, maintenance and repair shop, or a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH), complete with X-Ray, laboratory equipment, and a blood bank. The well-lit and air-conditioned field hospital enabled surgeries to be performed wherever necessary. Additionally, a "people pod" was designed to transport 45 combat-ready troops. The "Skycrane" was deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. For aircraft recovery operations where the CH-47 Chinook was insufficient, the CH-54 was the aircraft of choice. It also played a role in off-loading during ship-to-shore operations and could be equipped to deploy a large 10,000 lb. cratering bomb to establish landing zones ("LZs") in dense jungles. The T-54A Tarhe featured a six-bladed main rotor and a four-bladed metal tail rotor, powered by two Pratt & Whitney T73-P-1 4500 shp turbine engines, achieving speeds of 128 mph (111 knots). The CH-54B model was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney T73-P-700 4800 shp turbine engines.

Mahogany Wood. Scale: 1/48. Rotorspan 17 inches, Length 17 1/2 inches.