Airfix 04056 Westland Sea King HC.4

The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King (another designation: Sikorsky S-61) is an American multi-role sea helicopter from the Cold War and modern times. The prototype's flight took place in 1959, and the machine entered service in 1961. The helicopter - in the SH-3 version - is 16.7 m long, and its main rotor diameter is 19 meters. The drive is provided by two General Electric T58-GE-10 engines with a capacity of 1400 HP each. Its maximum speed reaches 267 km / h. The helicopter has a classic layout with a single main rotor and a propeller on the tail boom.

The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King was developed for the needs of the US Navy, primarily as an in-flight ZOP (anti-submarine) helicopter that would be capable of landing on water. Over time, the spectrum of performed tasks has been expanded, including, inter alia, sea rescue tasks or fighting offshore units. During the construction of the machine, a lot of emphasis was placed on its reliability and the ability to fly as long as possible. In the course of production, many development versions of this successful helicopter were created, including: SH-3A (the first, actually mass-produced version of the machine for the US Navy), CH-3B (transport version for the USAF), HH-3E Jolly Green Giant (rescue and search helicopter) or UH-3H (transport version for the US Navy). It is also worth adding that the license production of this helicopter was carried out in Great Britain, where it was manufactured as Westland Sea King. It was flown in 1969 and differed from its American predecessor mainly by the use of Rolls-Royce Gnome engines. It also uses significantly altered avionics and other equipment for ZOP activities.