The CH-54 is a military heavy-lift transport helicopter manufactured by American rotorcraft producer Sikorsky. The distinctive, twin-engine craft took its maiden flight on May 9, 1962 and it entered service in 1963, operated by the United States Army. The Army designated the helicopter the Tarhe, a chief of the Wyandot tribe.
The CH-54, of which Sikorsky ultimately built 105 units, was placed into combat in the Vietnam War soon after its introduction. It saw heavy use due to its unique capability as a “sky crane” to lift all types of large and heavy types of materiel. Loads included artillery units, patrol boats, and heavy equipment like bulldozers. The aircraft was used extensively as a salvage ship, extricating helicopters that had been downed in combat and due to mechanical issues. Sikorsky adapted the CH-54 into a civil variant, the S-64 Skycrane.
Sikorsky developed the CH-54 based on their work on their earlier heavy-lift offering, the S-60. Far more powerful than the S-60, the Tarhe features a 6-blade main rotor system and a versatile fuselage allowing it to sling-load cargo of a variety of types and shapes. Depending on altitude and environmental conditions, it can lift up to 20,000 pounds of cargo. Sikorsky created an innovative flight and load management system for the CH-54 comprising a control-by-wire system.
The CH-54 is operated by three, including a load manager. It measures 88 feet, 6 inches in length, stands 25 feet, 5 inches tall, and has a main rotor system with a diameter of 72 feet. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney T73-P-700 turboshaft engines that each produce up to 4,800 shaft horsepower. The Tarhe has a range of 230 miles, climbs at 1,330 feet per minute, cruises at 120 miles per hour, and has a top speed of 150 mph.
