UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

CH/HH-3E'S

THE BIOGRAPHICS OF AND A

TRIBUTE TO A FORGOTTEN WORKHORSE

BY

R. CHRISTOPHER AND J. G. A. SMITH
01 SEPTEMBER 1992

The CH/HH-3 Jolly Green Giant

The Sikorsky CH/HH-3 is based on thier S-61 design, and was first developed for the military by the U.S. Navy as the SH-3. The first model for the USAF was the CH-3B which was a modified CH-3C which featured a redesigned rear fusalage incorporating a loading ramp for small vehicles and cargo. Retractable landing gear was added and with the addition of the aft ramp the tail wheel was moved forward and made steerable. The first flight of the CH-3C was on 17 June 1963. Beginning in 1966 all Ch-3C's were modified with the T-58-GE-5 engine which changed their designation to CH-3E and an APU was installed making the CH-3 self-starting. The CH-3 can carry 25 fully equipped troops, but it was best known for use in rescue missions in Vietnam where it gained its nickname the "Jolly Green Giant". Fixed gun mounts were added to the CH-3.

Specifications:

Span: 62' 0" Rotor
Length: 57' 3"
Height: 18' 1"
Weight, Empty, 13,255 lbs.
Weight, Gross, 22,500 lbs.
Maximum Air Speed: 162 MPH
Service Ceiling: 11,100 feet
Range 465 miles
Armament: Two General Electric 7.63mm M60D machine guns

• A history of CH/HH-3E's by tail number
• Jolly Green Units Those units known to have flown the CH/HH-3
• CH/HH-3E statistics
• What one old war horse is doing now

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