Helicopters first started to be mass-produced in WWII (although their production in Germany was limited after the Allied bombing of the factories). Post-war helicopter development and their incorporation into the United States military took off. By the 1960s, helicopter design had matured, with the CH-47 Chinook and Black Hawks continuing today (the design hadn’t changed much until the development of the CV-22 Osprey and V-280 Valor tiltrotors). While the US Navy was an early adopter of the helicopter, the Coast Guard did much to pioneer its incorporation into naval operations. Here are five historic US Navy helicopters.
5 Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly
131 Sikorksy R-4s were built
First flight: January 1942 Produced: 1942-1944 US operators: Army Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard
The Sikorsky R-4 or Sikorsky HNS-1 was a World War II helicopter and the world’s first large-scale mass-produced helicopter. It also had the distinction of being the first helicopter used by the US Army Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard (as well as the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy—where it was known as the Hoverfly).
Photo: National Naval Aviation Museum
According to the National Naval Aviation Museum, Coast Guard Aviators spearheaded the adoption of the helicopter. The museum says,
5 Historic US Navy Helicopters
