Designation | Official, Popular Name(s) | Manufacturer | 1st Flight or Appearance | Role(s)/Notes |
HA Dunkirk Fighter Curtiss 1918 escort bpiplane fighter, mailplane HE Cub Piper 1940 USN/USMC hospital/ambulance; redes. to AE in 1942 HL Loening 1925 USN/USMC hospital/ambulance OL H-1 Owl L.W.F. 1920 mail, bomber [U]H-1 Huey, Iroqouis, Hog, Bell 1962 USN/USMC/Army/USAF multirole utility Slick helicopter - redes. HU-1 13 [A]H-1 HueyCobra, SeaCobra, Bell 1965 USN/USMC/Army close support attack, training, SuperCobra, Cobra, ECM helicopter - competitor H-2, H-3 for Army Quick Fix, Snake (-1G) H-2 (HU2K) Seasprite,Hooky Tooky Kaman 1962 USN LAMPS I ASW, SAR, utility, observation H-2 (HU-2) Tomahawk Kaman 1963 Army modified UH-2A attack helicopter, research, competitor in gunship contract with AH-1, H-3 H-3 Sea King (USN/USMC), Sikorsky 1963 USN LAMPS III ASW, MCM, helicopter; USCG SAR; (HSS-2) Pelican (USCG), USMC/USAF/Army VIP transport; USAF JGG SAR; Army Jolly Green Giant competitor for gunship contract with AH-1, H-2 (USAF) - USN HSS-2 redes. to SH-3 in 1962 H-4 Vought-Sik. 1948 redes. R-4 H-4 Bell 1962 Army LOH competitor, prototype OH-58 - redes. HO-4 H-5 Hoverfly Sikorsky 1948 USN light utility helicopter - USN's 1st helicopter - redes. R-5 H-5 Hiller 1962 Army LOH competitor - redes. HO-5 H-6 Sikorsky 1948 redesignated R-6 H-6 Cayuse, LOacH, McDD 1963 Army light observation/light attack helicopter Defender, Egg, (Hughes) redes. HO-6 Little Bird, Olive on a Toothpick, Super Bee H-7? H-8 Curtiss 1916 USN observation seaplane H-8 Defender,Little Bird, McDD 1988 alleged designation Army armed H-6/civilian MD500/530, Olive on a Toothpick, Super Bee actually AH-6A/MH-6A H-9 Firestone 1948 redes. R-9 H-10 Kellet 1948 redes. R-10 H-11 Rotorcraft 1948 redes. R-11 H-12 Curtiss 1918 USN biplane patrol flying boat H-12 Bell 1948 redes. R-12 H-13 Sioux Bell 1948 USAF/USMC/USN/Army utility/trainer helicopter (HTL/HUL) redes. R-13 (1948), HTL/HUL (1962) H-14 Curtiss 1916 patrol flying boat H-15 Bell 1950 USAAF-funded USAGF utility helicopter H-16 Curtiss 1918 USN - larger & modified H-12 patrol H-16 Transporter Piasecki 1948 USAAF/USAF/Army large twin rotor tactical transport/SAR helicopter - redes. R-16 H-17 "Flying Crane" Hughes/ 1952 experimental flying crane helicopter Kellett H-18 Sikorsky 1946 USAAF/Army utility helicopter H-19 (HRS/ Chickasaw, Angel Sikorsky 1949 Army/USAF/USN/USMC/USCG utility, transport, rescue HO4S) of Mercy, Elephant Joyeux helicopter - redes. from USN/USMC/USCG HRS/HO4S in 1962 H-20 Little Henry McDonnell 1947 experimental helicopter w/rotor-tip ramjets H-21 (HRP) Shawnee, Work Horse, Piasecki 1952 USAF/USN/Army twin rotor transport helicopter Flying Banana - improved/redes. HRP H-22 Kaman 1950 civilian Model K-225 evaluation H-23 (HTE) Raven, Hauler Hiller 1950 Army utility helicopter HTE H-24 Seibel 1951 Army observation, utility test helicopter H-25 (HUP, Army Mule, Retriever Piasecki 1951 Army/USN twin rotor utility, support, casevac, HJP) rescue helicopter - redes. from USN HUP/HJP in 1962 H-26 Jet Jeep Amer. 1952 rotor-mounted pulse-jet Heli. observation/recon.helicopter H-27 Piasecki 1951 2nd H-16 - redes. to H-16A H-28 Hughes 1952 proposed modified H-17 H-29 McDonnell 1952 proposed modified H-20 H-30 McCulloch 1952 Army twin rotor observation helicopter H-31 Doman 1953 Army evaluation utility helicopter - not accepted and used as VIP transport H-32 (HOE) Hornet Hiller 1952 Army light helicopter prototype with rotor-tip ramjets H-33 Bell 1952 Army tiltrotor VTOL - later [X]V-3 H-34 Choctaw(Army), Sikorsky 1955 USN HSS-1/HUS - redes. from USN/USMC HSS-1/HUS (HSS/HUS) Seahorse(USMC), in 1962 Seaboat(USN), Seabat(1st production aircraft) H-35 Convertiplane McDonnell 1953 Army/USAF experimental VTOL convertiplane - later [X]V-1 H-3626 Bell 1954 cancelled - designation reserved for USN use; also attributed to Air Force project "Long Ears" in 1959 H-37 Mojave, Deuce Sikorsky 1962 Army/USN/USMC transport, AEW civilian (HR2S) S-56/HR2S - redes. from USN/USMC HR2S in 1962 H-3826 Sikorsky 1954 cancelled - designation reserved for USN use; also attributed to Air Force project "Short Tail" in 1959 H-39 Sikorsky 1954 Army - 3rd H-18 - conversion from piston to turbine propulsion H-40 Bell 1956 Army prototype civilian Model 204 - later HU-1 H-41 Seneca Cessna 1954 Army experimental light helicopter H-42 Hughes 1944 original designation HO-2 - later dev. as TH-55 H-43 Huskie, Kaman 1956 USN/USAF crash rescue, observation helicopter (HOK/HUK) Flying Shithouse - redes. HOK/HUK H-4426 unassigned - to avoid conflict with Hiller H-44? (internal company designation); also attributed to Air Force project "Big Tom" in 1959 H-45 1962 Air Force reserved designation for Project "Step Child" 14 H-46 Sea Knight, Frog, Boeing V. 1962 USAF/USMC/USN/Army twin rotor transport, SAR, (HC-1A/HRB) Boeing Body Bag, Boeing Mix Master MCM, helicopter - redes. HC-1A/HRB, H-49 (CH-46B) H-47 Chinook, Shithook, Boeing V. 1964 Army twin rotor transport helicopter- Hook redes. HC-1B H-48 reserved for missile site support helicopter in 1963 H-49 Sea Knight Boeing V. 1962 original designation of CH-46B H-50 (DSN) DASH Gyrodyne 1962 USN Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter - redes. DSN H-51 Lockheed 1962 experimental high-speed helicopter - USN/Army evaluation - predecessor H-56 H-52 Seaguard Sikorsky 1962 USN/USCG SAR helicopter - redes. HU2S (HU2S) H-53 Sea Stallion (USN), Sikorsky 1964 USN/USMC assault transport (CH-53), MCM(RH-53), Super Jolly (USAF), civilian S-65/S-80(-E); USAF SAR (HH-53B), SOF Pave Low I/II/III/Enhanced (SOF), night/all-weather clandestine operations Super Shitter (HH-53C/G/H - later MH-53H/J) H-54 Tarhe, Skycrane Sikorsky 1962 Army heavy crane helicopter H-55 Osage Hughes 1956 Army primary trainer helicopter - development HO-2 H-56 Cheyenne Lockheed 1967 Army all-weather attack/escort helicopter H-57 Sea Ranger Bell 1968 USN instrument flight trainer H-58 H-58 Kiowa, Warrior, Bell 1968 Army light multirole observation helicopter, Aeroscout armed attack (AH/OH-58D) - development H-4 H-59 Sikorsky 1955 competitor H-40 - modified H-18 H-59 Sikorsky 1973 Army ABC research helicopter H-60 (Black/Night/Pave/ Sikorsky 1974 Army UTTAS (UH-60), ECM/SOTAS (EH-60), SOF Credible/Quick/Ocean/ clandestine missions (MH-60K) civilian S-70; USAF Jay/CINC/ SAR (HH-60A/D/E, UH-60A, MH-60G); USN LAMPS III, Rescue) Hawk, ASW, VERTREP (SH-60), SAR (HH-60H); USMC VIP Quick Fix II, UTTAS, Catfish, Crash Hawk, transport (VH-60); USCG SAR (HH-60J) Lawn Dart H-61 UTTAS Boeing V. 1974 Army UTTAS competitor H-60 - LAMPS II competitor H-62 HLH Boeing 1970 Heavy Lift Helicopter H-63 KingCobra Bell 1975 Army modified AH-1 - competitor AH-64 H-64 Apache, Sea Apache McDD 1975 Army anti-armour attack helicopter (Hughes) H-65 Dolphin Aerosp. 1984 SAR recon. Aerospatiale SA 366 Dauphin H-66 Comanche Boeing/ 1991 LHX contract winner - low-observability armed Sikorsky recon. helicopter with internal weapons bay H-67 Creek Bell 1995? trainer civilian Model 206B H-68 Agusta 2000 USCG A109 - drug interdiction H-76 Eagle Sikorsky gunship, SAR, observation, utility helicopter civilian S-76 - non-standard designation H-90 McDD 199? USCG MD900 - non-standard designation HA Curtiss 1922 scout flying boat HB-1 Cyclops Huff-Dal. 1925 mod./enlarged LB-1 - heavy bomber HB-2 Fokker 1926 proposed heavy bomber LB-2 - single wing (Atlantic) HB-3 Huff-Dal. 1926 proposed single-wing heavy bomber HCH McDonnell 1951 USN proposed crane helicopter HC-1A Seaknight Boeing V. 1962 Army designation of H-46 tandem cargo (H-46) helicopter HC-1B Chinook, Shithook Boeing V. 1961 Army original des. of H-47 tandem cargo (H-47) helicopter - redes. CH-1 HC-47 Dakota, Skytrain Douglas 1962 SAR C-47 - redes. SC-47 HC-54 Skymaster Douglas 1955 SAR C-54 - redes. SC-54 HC-97 Stratofreighter Boeing 1950? sea/air rescue C-97 HC-130 Hercules Lockheed 1962 USCG/USAF mid-air recovery of spacecraft/RPV's, SAR, surveillance; helicopter refuelling - redes. SC-130 HC-130P Combat Shadow, Lockheed clandestine special ops heli. refueling, Hercules 1964 tactical airdrops - later MC-130P HC-131 Samaritan Convair 1960 USCG SAR C-131 !HD-1 N.A.F. ? USN N.A.F.-built Hanriot fighter seaplane HH-1 Huey Bell 1970 USN basic rescue UH-1 HH-2 Seasprite Kaman 1970 USN SAR H-2 HH-3E Jolly Green Giant Sikorsky 1967 USAF combat SAR, transport CH-3E HH-3F Pelican Sikorsky 1968 USCG medium-range recovery HH-3 - similar to HH-3E HH-13 Sioux Bell 1950? SAR H-13 HH-19 Chickasaw Sikorsky 1956 Army SAR H-19 - HH-19G redes. from USCG HO4S-3G, USAF SH-19 in 1962 HH-21 Shawnee, Work Horse Piasecki 1962 MATS rescue H-21 - redes. SH-21 HH-34 Seahorse Sikorsky 1955 Army SAR H-34 - USCG HUS-1G redes. to HH-34 in (HUS-1G) 1962 HH-43 Huskie, Kaman 1958 crash rescue H-43 Flying Shithouse HH-46 Sea Knight, Frog, Boeing V. 1975 USMC SAR-converted CH-46 Boeing Body Bag, Boeing Mix Master HH-52 Seaguard Sikorsky 1962 USCG SAR H-52 HH-53B/C Super Jolly Sikorsky 1968 USAF combat SAR H-53 !HH-53C Pave Low Sikorsky 1975 modified HH-53 for SOF - night/all-weather sensors HH-53H Pave Low Sikorsky 1979 upgraded Pave Low - better avionics - redes. to MH-53H HH-60A Night Hawk Sikorsky 1970 USAF all-weather combat rescue converted UH-60A (HH-60A); proposed HH-60D/E with better avionics cancelled; all HH-60A + 9 UH-60A redes./converted to UH-60A Credible Hawk, then MH-60G Pave Hawk HH-60H Rescue Hawk Sikorsky 1988 USN SAR-modified SH-60F HH-60J Jayhawk14 Sikorsky 1989 USCG MRR HH-60 - modified SH-60F HH-65 Dolphin Aerospat. 1984 USCG short-range recovery H-65 HJD Whirlaway McDonnell 1946 initial designation HJH HJH Whirlaway McDonnell 1947 USN experimental helicopter with laterally displaced rotors - redes. HJD HJP (H-25) Army Mule Piasecki 1948 USN prototype HUP - later H-25 HJS Sikorsky 1949 USN utility helicopter HN (TW-5) Huff-Dal. 1922 USN trainer HNS (R-4) Hoverfly Sikorsky 1942 USN trainer R-4 - 1st USN helicopter HOE (H-32) Hornet Hiller 1951 USN observation H-32 HOG Gyrodyne 1954 USN - initial designation RON HOK (H-43) Huskie Kaman 1950 USN/USMC observation H-43 HOS (R-6) Hoverfly II Sikorsky 1944 USN R-6 HO2S (R-5) Hoverfly Sikorsky 1943 USN evaluation R-5 HO3S (R-5) Hoverfly Sikorsky 1965 USMC - development HO2S HO4S Chickasaw Sikorsky 1955 USN/USMC (HO4S-1/2/3), USCG (HO4S-3G) (H-19) carrier-based observation civilian S-55/Army H-19A; HO4S-3G later HH-19G, HO4S later UH-19F HO5S Sikorsky 1952 USN/USMC H-18 (H-18) HO Huff-Dal. 1923 USN obervation flying boat HO-1 Sud-Ouest 1955 Army evaluation French Djinn observation helicopter HO-1E Pawnee Hiller 1955 USN non-standard interim des. of VZ-1 VTOL (VZ-1) research - redes. in 1956 HO-2 De Lackner 1955 Army VTOL research flying platform - later HZ-1 HO-2 Hughes 1956 Army evaluation civilian Model 269/redes. H-42 (H-55) HO-3 Brantly 1957 Army evaluation civilian observation helicopter HO-4 Bell 1962 LOH competitor, prototype H-58 - later OH-4 HO-5 Hiller 1962 LOH competitor - later OH-5 HO-6 Hughes 1962 LOH - later OH-6 HRB (H-46) Seaknight, Frog Boeing V. 1961 USMC transport helicopter - later CH-46A HRH McDonnell USN assault helicopter project HRP Rescuer, Flying Piasecki 1945 USN/USMC/USCG transport helicopter (H-21) Banana HRS (H-19) Chickasaw Sikorsky 1955 USN/USMC carrier-based troop transport civilian S-55 - similar to HO4S-1 - later CH-19E HR2S Mojave, Deuce Sikorsky 1953 USN/USMC carrier-based transport, AEW (H-37) helicopter civilian S-56 - later CH-37 in 1962 HR3S Sikorsky 1960 proprietary development HSS-2 HS Curtiss 1917 USN/USMC Hydroplane, Single engine biplane patrol bomber flying boat HSL Bell 1951 USN twin rotor ASW helicopter HSS-1 Seabat Sikorsky 1954 USN/USMC prototype carrier-based ASW (later (H-34) SH-34), VIP transport (HSS-1Z [later VH-34D]) helicopter civilian S-58 - also HUS HSS-2 Hiss Sikorsky 1959 USN/USMC carrier-based ASW prototype of (SH-3) civilian S-61 - redes. to SH-3 in 1962 HTE (H-23) Raven, Hauler Hiller 1955 USN trainer helicopter civlian UH-12 HTK Kaman USN trainer helicopter HTL Sioux Bell 1946 USN/USMC trainer HH-13N/TH-13L/M/N (TH-13) HUK (H-43) Huskie Kaman 1958 USN utility H-43 HU2K (H-2) Seasprite,Hooky Tooky Kaman 1959 USN carrier-based SAR/utility helicopter HUL Sioux Bell 1959 USN SAR utility HH-13Q/UH-13P/R (UH-13) HUM McCulloch USN utility helicopter HUP (H-25) Retriever Piasecki 1949 USN/USMC utility H-25 - redes. HJP HUS (H-34) Seahorse Sikorsky 1950 USMC utility/transport (later UH-34), Arctic operation(HUS-1L[later LH-34D]), USCG SAR (HUS-1G [later HH-34F]) version of HSS-1 HU2S Seaguard Sikorsky 1962 USN utility HH-52 (H-52) HU-1 Huey Bell 1959 Army preproduction/redes. H-40 - later [U]H-1 HU-16 Albatross Grumman 1962 USAF rescue/utility amphibian JR2F/U-16- redes. (JR2F) SA-16 HU-25 Guardian(A), Dass.Breg. 1982 USCG surveillence U-25 Interceptor(C), Falcon HV-22 Osprey Bell/Boe. 1989 proposed USN SAR V-22 HZ-1 De Lackner 1956 Army non-standard des. of VTOL research flying platform - redes. HO-2All pages ©copyright Andrew Chorney, 2007
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