50th anniversary of USAF HH-3E Transatlantic crossing
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50th anniversary of USAF HH-3E Transatlantic crossing
Belatedly (the anniversary was back in June), c/o the Sikorsky Archives:
One of the two aircraft involved (66-13281), flown by then-Maj. Herb Zehnder, set an FAI-recognized record for Speed Over a Recognized Course during the flight which still stands today.
It was previously suggested in a prior thread that one of the two aircraft involved ended up with Helipro New Zealand as an S-61R, but this claim was erroneous. Per the Jolly Green Association website, 66-13281 was shot down over Laos in October 1969 (the crew being rescued, but the aircraft subsequently being destroyed to prevent capture), while 66-13280 crashed in South Vietnam in April 1970 (with loss of the pilot and flight engineer).
Air Combat magazine ran a feature story on the flight back in 1992: In the Spirit of Lindbergh (PDF)
I/C
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s solo Transatlantic crossing (in 1927), the U.S. Air Force in 1967 organized the first non-stop helicopter flight across the Atlantic Ocean, from New York to Paris. Two U.S. Air Force Sikorsky HH-3E “Jolly Green Giant” search and rescue helicopters departed Naval Air Station, New York at Floyd Bennet Field on May 31st on their way to a 30 hour 46 minute flight to Paris. Refueled nine times each by HC-130P tanker aircraft at altitudes of between 1,000 and 9,000 feet and speeds of 125 mph, the helicopters landed at Le Bourget during the 27th Paris Air Show.
The two helicopters took off at 1:06 AM New York time, in order to arrive at the Paris Air Show during the middle of “Helicopter Day” at 1:51 PM Paris time. Flying more northerly than Lindbergh’s route to allow diversion to land if required. After the fourth refueling, east and south of Greenland, strong headwinds and icing conditions required the helicopters to descend to 1,000 feet and then 500 feet and finally to 50 feet to avoid icing conditions. Icebergs were a potential obstacle. Finally the weather improved and the HH-3Es climbed to a safer altitude for the fifth refueling off the coast of Iceland. After crossing the coast of Scotland the weather cooperated and provided a tailwind to boost the groundspeed to 170 mph.
Enroute to Paris, the two helicopters separated to allow the second HH-3E to overfly Heathrow Airport in London to record a New York to London time of 29 hours and 13 minutes. The first helicopter arrived over Paris with a HC-130P tanker and performed a refueling demo for the assembled crowds before landing. The first HH-3E landed at 1:53 PM in Paris 30 hours and 46 minutes after leaving New York (131 mph for 4270 miles).
The second HH-3E landed 12 minutes later. Among the welcoming committee were Igor Sikorsky and his son, Sergei Sikorsky.
The two helicopters took off at 1:06 AM New York time, in order to arrive at the Paris Air Show during the middle of “Helicopter Day” at 1:51 PM Paris time. Flying more northerly than Lindbergh’s route to allow diversion to land if required. After the fourth refueling, east and south of Greenland, strong headwinds and icing conditions required the helicopters to descend to 1,000 feet and then 500 feet and finally to 50 feet to avoid icing conditions. Icebergs were a potential obstacle. Finally the weather improved and the HH-3Es climbed to a safer altitude for the fifth refueling off the coast of Iceland. After crossing the coast of Scotland the weather cooperated and provided a tailwind to boost the groundspeed to 170 mph.
Enroute to Paris, the two helicopters separated to allow the second HH-3E to overfly Heathrow Airport in London to record a New York to London time of 29 hours and 13 minutes. The first helicopter arrived over Paris with a HC-130P tanker and performed a refueling demo for the assembled crowds before landing. The first HH-3E landed at 1:53 PM in Paris 30 hours and 46 minutes after leaving New York (131 mph for 4270 miles).
The second HH-3E landed 12 minutes later. Among the welcoming committee were Igor Sikorsky and his son, Sergei Sikorsky.
One of the two aircraft involved (66-13281), flown by then-Maj. Herb Zehnder, set an FAI-recognized record for Speed Over a Recognized Course during the flight which still stands today.
It was previously suggested in a prior thread that one of the two aircraft involved ended up with Helipro New Zealand as an S-61R, but this claim was erroneous. Per the Jolly Green Association website, 66-13281 was shot down over Laos in October 1969 (the crew being rescued, but the aircraft subsequently being destroyed to prevent capture), while 66-13280 crashed in South Vietnam in April 1970 (with loss of the pilot and flight engineer).
Air Combat magazine ran a feature story on the flight back in 1992: In the Spirit of Lindbergh (PDF)
I/C
