Sikorsky XHJS

Sikorsky S-53 / XHJS-1
Role	Helicopter Type of aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight	22 September 1947
Primary user	United States Navy
Number built	2
Developed from	Sikorsky S-51

The Sikorsky XHJS-1 (manufacturer designation S-53), was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft to meet a Naval requirement for a utility helicopter. The XHJS-1 was not ordered into production and only two prototypes were built.^[1]

Design and development

Powered by a 525 hp (391 kW) Continental R-975-34, the S-53 was a development of the S-51 designed for use on aircraft carriers. The tail rotor was raised above head-height to give more clearance and the landing gear was made stronger to enable operations from a moving deck. Other enhancements were a folding main rotor and the option for amphibious landing gear. Two prototypes were ordered by the United States Navy as the XHJS-1^[1] and the first flew on 22 September 1947. The type was evaluated against the Piasecki XHJP-1. With the Piasecki design being ordered as the HUP-1 by the Navy, the S-53 was not developed further.

Variants

XHJS-1

Prototype naval utility helicopter, two built.^[1]

Specifications (XHJS-1)

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: three
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental R-975-34 , 525 hp (391 kW)
• Main rotor diameter: 49 ft 0 in (14.94 m)

See also

Related development

• Sikorsky S-51

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Piaseckli XHUP-1

References

Fixed-wing aircraft
(company designations)Fixed-wing aircraft
(military designations)Helicopters
(company designations)Helicopters
(military designations)Experimental aircraft