USN/USMC Emergency Flotation
Can only speak to SA models, SAS:
SH-3 series all had boat hulls and were tested for emergency water operations. ( in fact, sometime right after I joined SA, SH-3 test pilot Cliff Brown had a tail rotor buzz problem in a sonar hover, plunked one into LI Sound and taxied back to The docks at Bridgeport. In fact Cliff had a sort of history re " water integrity ", having to do with a rescue in North Korea, a downed pilot racing from the tree line toward his S-51, bad guys chasing him, but Cliff getting out to pee, so as not to soil his new and warm ( native Floridian ) winter flying suit. It's a longer story and somewhat famous in the USAF ).
CH-53A was tested for emergency water operation and in fact during early production testing, every third or fifth machine went for a 10 minute drive in the Housatonic River.
USCG HH-3F were tested for emergency water operation ( even though the parent model, the USAF H-3 series was FAA certified as amphibious, and thus each and every production machine was water tested in the river).
SH-60 models have floats.
Last edited by JohnDixson; 14th Sep 2013 at 14:08.
Reason: Wording error