1962


Sikorsky S-61 H-3

CH-3B





The USAF ordered 12 Vertol 107/II (XCH-49) helicopters for Texas Tower and missile silo support in early 1962, but cancelled th contrac tin Sep 62 when it became clear that Vertol could not meet the stringent delivery schedule. The USAF ordered the Sikorsky S-61R ( CH-3C ) instead. As an interim measure, the USAF borrowed three SH-3As from the Navy. Sikorsky modified three SH-3As into CH-3As by removing all ASW equipment and adding USAF radios and avionics. The serials involved were 149009, 149011, & 149012. The Air Force re-serialled these as 62-12571/73. Eventually, the Air Force ordered three more custom built S-61As as CH-3Bs serialled 62-12574/76. The first three CH-3As were upgraded to CH-3B standard. All were eventually placed in storage at MASDC, Davis-Monthan AFB during the mid 1970s. CH-3B 62-12575 was pulled from storage and reworked for the US Navy as an SH-3H and served with the Sea King Replacement Air Group (RAG) HS-10.



  List of Operators of CH-3B


Years Model Org
1961/09 S-61 H-3 usa US Navy
1962/94 S-61 H-3 usa US Air Force
1972-    S-61 H-3 argentina Comando de Aviacion Naval Argentina
1973-    S-61 H-3 usa Carson Helicopters
1980-    S-61 H-3 usa Croman Corp
2010/18 S-61 H-3 usa US Department of State



  Global Distribution of CH-3B



3ch-3b


Construction Numbers


C/N Year History
61-145 w/o 1984 1962 US 212574,62-12574
61-152 1962 AR US 0886,212575 ,62-12575,N575AW
61-161 1962 US 62-12576,N1048Y,N352DH






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