The Piasecki HRP Rescuer (also called Harp) is a United Statestandem-rotor transport or rescue helicopter designed by Frank Piasecki and built by Piasecki Helicopter. The Piasecki PV-3 was adopted as the HRP-1 Rescuer by the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard. An improved PV-17 variant was later produced as the HRP-2. As one of the first transport helicopters in military service, the HRP-1 was capable of carrying two crewmen and 8–10 passengers or 2,000 lb. (907 kg) of cargo.
The prototype helicopter (designated PV-3 by Piasecki, though commonly known to test personnel as "The Dogship") first flew at Morton, Pennsylvania in March 1945 following a development contract from the United States Navy in February 1944. The "Dogship" was a novel tandem-rotor helicopter with a fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a 600 hp (447 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 engine. To ensure that the rotors did not hit each other, the rear end of the fuselage curved upwards so the rear rotor was higher than the forward rotor. This was based on a Drago Jovanovich patented design. The fuselage was constructed of ordinary mild steel tubing, filled out with wooden ribs, and covered with doped fabric.[1]
Following a series of mechanical incidents with the prototype, including stripped transmission gears, it was determined that use of common automotive parts in the helicopter transmission were inadequate to the severe loads imposed by flight; subsequent prototypes built after the war used stronger components.[1] Two prototypes designated XHRP-1 were constructed; one was used as a static test aircraft and the other was used for development flying.
As the first U.S. military helicopter in service with a significant transport capability, the HRP-1 was immediately put to use transporting cargo and personnel. Although referred to officially as the HRP-1, or "Harp", the helicopter's distinctive shape, with no protruding nose beyond the forward rotor's axis, soon earned it the nickname "The Flying Banana". The first HRP-1 Rescuer flew on 15 August 1947, and a second batch of 10 was built later, with the final machine delivered in 1949. All were powered by the 600 hp (450 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 engine.
In all, 20 HRP-1s were ordered by the United States Navy, which passed most of their order to the U.S. Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. Three additional helicopters were delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard with the designation HRP-1G. An improved PV-17 version with an all-metal skin was developed with five ordered in June 1948 as the HRP-2; all HRP-2s were delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard for use as rescue craft. Nine HRP-1s formed the backbone of the first Marine helicopter transport squadron, HMX-1, and were used in various exercises designed to test the helicopter's ability to deliver troops in beach assault or forward battlefield operations.[2]
In service, the HRP-1 frequently suffered various teething and maintenance troubles such as broken engine mounts and loose fittings; it was not unusual for the fabric covering to rip loose from the helicopter in flight, often entangling the rotor blades.[3] Despite these issues, the relative success of Piasecki's tandem rotor design would lead to the Piasecki H-21 family of helicopters.[4] Two surviving aircraft are in storage at the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center in West Chester, Pennsylvania and a third is under restoration at the Classic Rotors Museum in Ramona, California.[5][6]
VariantsEdit
An HRP without skin in 1953
PV-3
Prototype tandem-rotor helicopter powered by a Wright R-975 piston engine, one built.
XHRP-1
Military designation for two further PV-3s, one for static testing and one for flight trials.
HRP-1
Production variant, 20 built including three HRP-1Gs.
HRP-1G
Three United States Navy HRP-1s for the United States Coast Guard.
^"Aircraft in Storage". American Helicopter Museum & Education Center. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
^"HRP". Classic Rotors Museum. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
^"USCG History". Helis. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^Watkins, Ray. "Piasecki PV-3 HRP-1 Rescuer, U.S. Marine Corps". 1,000 Aircraft Photos. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ abThomason, Tommy H. (29 December 2010). "And now for something completely different". U.S. Navy Aircraft History. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
BibliographyEdit
Apostolo, Giorgio (1984). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters. New York: Bonanza Books. ISBN0-517-439352.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Orbis Publishing. 1985.
Rawlins, Eugene W. (1976). Marines and Helicopters 1946-1962. Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division, U.S. Marine Corps.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. ISBN0-517-69186-8.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Piasecki HRP Rescuer.
"Navies Helicopter For Land or Sea Has Twin Rotors." Popular Mechanics, November 1945, p. 49.
"Navies Helicopter For Land or Sea Has Twin Rotors." Popular Mechanics, November 1945, cover art work.
September 02, 2023
piasecki, rescuer, also, called, harp, united, states, tandem, rotor, transport, rescue, helicopter, designed, frank, piasecki, built, piasecki, helicopter, piasecki, adopted, rescuer, united, states, navy, united, states, marine, corps, united, states, coast,. The Piasecki HRP Rescuer also called Harp is a United States tandem rotor transport or rescue helicopter designed by Frank Piasecki and built by Piasecki Helicopter The Piasecki PV 3 was adopted as the HRP 1 Rescuer by the United States Navy United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard An improved PV 17 variant was later produced as the HRP 2 As one of the first transport helicopters in military service the HRP 1 was capable of carrying two crewmen and 8 10 passengers or 2 000 lb 907 kg of cargo HRP RescuerA U S Coast Guard HRP 1GRole Tandem rotor transport rescue helicopterManufacturer Piasecki HelicopterDesigner Frank PiaseckiFirst flight 1945Introduction 1947Primary users United States NavyUnited States Coast GuardUnited States Marine CorpsNumber built 28 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications HRP 2 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDevelopment Edit Piasecki HRP 1 Flying Banana helicopter at Naval Air Station Key West minus exterior doped fabric skinThe prototype helicopter designated PV 3 by Piasecki though commonly known to test personnel as The Dogship first flew at Morton Pennsylvania in March 1945 following a development contract from the United States Navy in February 1944 The Dogship was a novel tandem rotor helicopter with a fixed tricycle landing gear powered by a 600 hp 447 kW Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 AN 1 engine To ensure that the rotors did not hit each other the rear end of the fuselage curved upwards so the rear rotor was higher than the forward rotor This was based on a Drago Jovanovich patented design The fuselage was constructed of ordinary mild steel tubing filled out with wooden ribs and covered with doped fabric 1 Following a series of mechanical incidents with the prototype including stripped transmission gears it was determined that use of common automotive parts in the helicopter transmission were inadequate to the severe loads imposed by flight subsequent prototypes built after the war used stronger components 1 Two prototypes designated XHRP 1 were constructed one was used as a static test aircraft and the other was used for development flying Operational history Edit Eight HRP 1s aboard USS Palau CVE 122 in 1951As the first U S military helicopter in service with a significant transport capability the HRP 1 was immediately put to use transporting cargo and personnel Although referred to officially as the HRP 1 or Harp the helicopter s distinctive shape with no protruding nose beyond the forward rotor s axis soon earned it the nickname The Flying Banana The first HRP 1 Rescuer flew on 15 August 1947 and a second batch of 10 was built later with the final machine delivered in 1949 All were powered by the 600 hp 450 kW Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 AN 1 engine In all 20 HRP 1s were ordered by the United States Navy which passed most of their order to the U S Marine Corps and the Coast Guard Three additional helicopters were delivered to the U S Coast Guard with the designation HRP 1G An improved PV 17 version with an all metal skin was developed with five ordered in June 1948 as the HRP 2 all HRP 2s were delivered to the U S Coast Guard for use as rescue craft Nine HRP 1s formed the backbone of the first Marine helicopter transport squadron HMX 1 and were used in various exercises designed to test the helicopter s ability to deliver troops in beach assault or forward battlefield operations 2 In service the HRP 1 frequently suffered various teething and maintenance troubles such as broken engine mounts and loose fittings it was not unusual for the fabric covering to rip loose from the helicopter in flight often entangling the rotor blades 3 Despite these issues the relative success of Piasecki s tandem rotor design would lead to the Piasecki H 21 family of helicopters 4 Two surviving aircraft are in storage at the American Helicopter Museum amp Education Center in West Chester Pennsylvania and a third is under restoration at the Classic Rotors Museum in Ramona California 5 6 Variants Edit An HRP without skin in 1953PV 3 Prototype tandem rotor helicopter powered by a Wright R 975 piston engine one built XHRP 1 Military designation for two further PV 3s one for static testing and one for flight trials HRP 1 Production variant 20 built including three HRP 1Gs HRP 1G Three United States Navy HRP 1s for the United States Coast Guard HRP 2 Metal skinned variant five built Operators Edit United States of AmericaUnited States Coast Guard 7 8 United States Navy 9 United States Marine Corps 9 Specifications HRP 2 Edit 3 view line drawing of the Piasecki HRP 2 RescuerData from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft 1985 p 2716 General characteristicsCrew 2 Capacity eight passengers or 2 000 lb 907kg cargo or six stretchers Length 54 ft 0 in 16 46 m Height 14 ft 10 in 4 52 m Empty weight 5 301 lb 2 404 kg Gross weight 7 225 lb 3 277 kg Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 AN 1 radial engine 600 hp 447 kW Main rotor diameter 2 41 ft 0 in 12 50 m Main rotor area 2 640 51 sq ft 245 30 m2 Performance Maximum speed 105 mph 169 km h 91 kn Range 300 mi 483 km 260 nmi Service ceiling 8 530 ft 2 600 m See also EditRelated development Piasecki H 21Related lists List of United States Navy aircraft designations pre 1962 References EditNotes Edit a b Day Dwayne A 2003 Piasecki The Dogship and the Flying Banana U S Centennial of Flight Archived from the original on 19 December 2011 Retrieved 17 June 2012 Rawlins 1976 p 20 Close Robert A Helo Operations Class of 1945 Helo Operations U S Naval Academy Alumni Association amp Foundation Retrieved 17 June 2012 Apostolo 1984 p 79 Aircraft in Storage American Helicopter Museum amp Education Center Retrieved 12 October 2021 HRP Classic Rotors Museum Retrieved 12 October 2021 USCG History Helis Retrieved 10 January 2013 Watkins Ray Piasecki PV 3 HRP 1 Rescuer U S Marine Corps 1 000 Aircraft Photos Retrieved 10 January 2013 a b Thomason Tommy H 29 December 2010 And now for something completely different U S Navy Aircraft History Retrieved 26 January 2014 Bibliography Edit Apostolo Giorgio 1984 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters New York Bonanza Books ISBN 0 517 439352 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft London Orbis Publishing 1985 Rawlins Eugene W 1976 Marines and Helicopters 1946 1962 Washington D C History and Museums Division U S Marine Corps Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions ISBN 0 517 69186 8 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Piasecki HRP Rescuer Piasecki XHRP 1 page Piasecki HRP 1 page Piasecki HRP 2 page Navies Helicopter For Land or Sea Has Twin Rotors Popular Mechanics November 1945 p 49 Navies Helicopter For Land or Sea Has Twin Rotors Popular Mechanics November 1945 cover art work Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piasecki HRP Rescuer amp oldid 1151768568, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
