Sikorsky Skycrane Helicopter

On May 9, 1962, the Sikorsky company began flight testing its new heavy-lift helicopter, the S-64 Skycrane, at Stratford, Connecticut. The aircraft was designed expressly to carry heavy and bulky loads slung beneath its fuselage, and its skeletal, open-framed body gave it an unmistakable, purpose-built appearance.

Powered by turbine engines, the Skycrane could lift loads on the order of ten tons. Rather than carrying cargo in an enclosed hold, it was built to grip and transport oversized payloads externally, with provision for interchangeable pods and a rear-facing position so the crew could watch the load during pickup and placement.

The U.S. Army adopted a military version designated the CH-54 Tarhe, which served in Vietnam recovering downed aircraft and moving heavy equipment and artillery. In later civilian life the type, marketed as the Skycrane, found enduring work in construction, logging, and aerial firefighting.