2010-03-26T16:09:38Z

RuthAS: /* Operational history */further narrative and references

{{Underconstruction}}

{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=R-6 Hoverfly II
| image=File:Sikorsky R-6A Hoverfly II N74176 NEAM BDL 09.06.05R edited-2.jpg
| caption=R-6A Hoverfly II exhibited at the [[New England Air Museum]] at [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]] in 2005
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
| type=Helicopter
| national origin=United States
| manufacturer=[[Sikorsky Aircraft]]
| designer=Igor Sikorsky
| first flight=15 October 1943
| introduced=1945
| retired=
| status=Several preserved in museums
| primary user=United States Navy
| more users=Royal Air Force 
| produced= 
| number built=225
| program cost= 
| unit cost= 
| developed from=[[Sikorsky R-4]]
| variants with their own articles=
}}
|}
The '''Sikorsky R-6 Hoverfly II''' was an [[United States|American]]-built light two-seat helicopter of the 1940s.

==Development==

The R-6 Hoverfly II was developed to improve on the successful R-4. In order to enhance performance a completely new streamlined fuselage was designed and the boom carrying the tail rotor was lengthened and straightened. The main rotor and transmission system of the R-4 was retained.<ref>Swanborough, 1963, p.529</ref> Sikorsky allotted their '''Model 49''' designation to the new design. Later rotor modifications were carried out by Doman. The new aircraft could attain 100 mph compared with 82 mph by the earlier design.

Initial production was by Sikorsky, but most examples were built by [[Nash-Kelvinator]]. Some of the later aircraft were fitted with more powerful engines.

==Operational history==

The first R-6s were delivered to the [[United States Army Air Force]] (USAAF) in late 1944 and some were transferred to the [[United States Navy]] (USN). It was initially intended to pass 150 R-6s to the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF), but delays caused by the switch of production from Sikorsky's factory at [[Stratford, Connecticut]] to Nash-Kelvinator at [[Detroit]] [[Michigan]] meant that only 27 R-6As were actually delivered to the RAF as the '''Hoverfly II'''.<ref>Butler, 2004, p.278</ref> 15 of these were passed on to the [[Fleet Air Arm]] (FAA).<ref>Thetford, 1977, p.422</ref>

Some of the RAF examples were allotted to 657 Squadron RAF for proving the use of helicopters in the Army Co-operation role, and two external stretchers could be fitted to the fuselage. 657 Squadron operated their Hoverfly IIs as Air Observation Posts, spotting for Army artillery units. The Hoverfly IIs remained in operation until April 1951, and one squadron example was displayed at the September 1950 [[Farnborough Air Show]].<ref>Thetford, 1976, p.603</ref> The FAA used their Hoverfly IIs in the training and liaison roles.

The USAAF operated their R-6s in secondary roles and the survivors were redesignated '''H-6A''' in 1948. The USN examples were designated the '''HOS-1''' and a further 64 were intended to be transferred from the USAAF, but this did not take place.

Disposals of surplus military Model 49s were made in the civil market in the late 1940s but none now remain in operation. Four are currently displayed in US museums.<ref>Ogden, 2007, p.602</ref>

==Variants==
; XR-6 : prototype powered by a 225 h.p. Franklin 0-435-7 (1)
; XR-6A : as XR-6 but powered by the 240 h.p. 0-405-9 (5) of which 3 to the US Navy as XHOS-1
; YR-6A : as XR-6A with small changes (26) built by Nash-Kelvinator
; R-6A : production model (193) built by Nash-Kelvinator of which 36 to US Navy as HOS-1 and 27 to the RAF as Hoverfly II
; R-6B : projected variant with 225 h.p. 0-435-7, but not proceeded with


==Aircraft on display==

==Specifications (R-6A)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Thetford, 1977
|prime units?=imp

|genhide=

|crew=1
|capacity=1 observer
|length m=
|length ft=47
|length in=11
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|upper span m=
|upper span ft=
|upper span in=
|upper span note=
|mid span m=
|mid span ft=
|mid span in=
|mid span note=
|lower span m=
|lower span ft=
|lower span in=
|lower span note=
|swept m=
|swept ft=
|swept in=
|swept note=
|dia m=
|dia ft=
|dia in=
|dia note=
|width m=
|width ft=
|width in=
|width note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|swept area sqm=
|swept area sqft=
|swept area note=
|volume m3=
|volume ft3=
|volume note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=2600
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|lift kg=
|lift lb=
|lift note=
|more general=

|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Franklin 0-405-9
|eng1 type=piston
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=240 
|eng1 kn=
|eng1 lbf=
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=
|eng1 lbf-ab=

|eng2 number=
|eng2 name=
|eng2 type=
|eng2 kw=
|eng2 hp=
|eng2 kn=
|eng2 lbf=
|eng2 note=
|eng2 kn-ab=
|eng2 lbf-ab=

|eng3 number=
|eng3 name=
|eng3 type=
|eng3 kw=
|eng3 hp=
|eng3 kn=
|eng3 lbf=
|eng3 note=
|eng3 kn-ab=
|eng3 lbf-ab=
|more power=

|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=

|rot number=1 
|rot dia m=
|rot dia ft=38 
|rot dia in=0 
|rot area sqm=
|rot area sqft=
|rot area note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=100
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=10000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=

|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

|armament=
|guns=
|bombs=
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
}}


{{aircontent

|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
}}
==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last=Butler|first=Phil|title=Air Arsenal North America|year=2004|publisher=Midland Publishing|isbn=1-85780-163-6}}
*{{cite book|last=Swanborough|first=F.G.|title=United States Military Aircraft since 1909|year=1963|publisher=Putnam & Company Ltd|isbn=none}}
*{{cite book|last=Thetford|first=Owen|title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918|year=1976|publisher=Putnam & Company Ltd|isbn=0-370-10056-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Thetford|first=Owen|title=British Naval Aircraft since 1912|year=1977|publisher= Putnam & Company Ltd|isbn=0-370-30021-1}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
http://www.aerofiles.com/_sik.html Data and image of R-6

{{Sikorsky Aircraft}}
{{Aviation lists}}

[[Category:United States military utility aircraft 1940-1949]]
[[Category:Military helicopters]]

Sikorsky R-6

2010-03-26T15:57:13Z

RuthAS: /* References */addition to bibliography

{{Underconstruction}}

{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=R-6 Hoverfly II
| image=File:Sikorsky R-6A Hoverfly II N74176 NEAM BDL 09.06.05R edited-2.jpg
| caption=R-6A Hoverfly II exhibited at the [[New England Air Museum]] at [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]] in 2005
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
| type=Helicopter
| national origin=United States
| manufacturer=[[Sikorsky Aircraft]]
| designer=Igor Sikorsky
| first flight=15 October 1943
| introduced=1945
| retired=
| status=Several preserved in museums
| primary user=United States Navy
| more users=Royal Air Force 
| produced= 
| number built=225
| program cost= 
| unit cost= 
| developed from=[[Sikorsky R-4]]
| variants with their own articles=
}}
|}
The '''Sikorsky R-6 Hoverfly II''' was an [[United States|American]]-built light two-seat helicopter of the 1940s.

==Development==

The R-6 Hoverfly II was developed to improve on the successful R-4. In order to enhance performance a completely new streamlined fuselage was designed and the boom carrying the tail rotor was lengthened and straightened. The main rotor and transmission system of the R-4 was retained.<ref>Swanborough, 1963, p.529</ref> Sikorsky allotted their '''Model 49''' designation to the new design. Later rotor modifications were carried out by Doman. The new aircraft could attain 100 mph compared with 82 mph by the earlier design.

Initial production was by Sikorsky, but most examples were built by [[Nash-Kelvinator]]. Some of the later aircraft were fitted with more powerful engines.

==Operational history==

The first R-6s were delivered to the [[United States Army Air Force]] in late 1944 and some were transferred to the [[United States Navy]]. It was initially intended to pass 150 R-6s to the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF), but delays caused by the switch of production from Sikorsky's factory at [[Stratford, Connecticut]] to Nash-Kelvinator at [[Detroit]] [[Michigan]] meant that only 27 R-6As were actually delivered to the RAF as the '''Hoverfly II'''.<ref>Butler, 2004, p.278</ref> 15 of these were passed on to the [[Fleet Air Arm]] (FAA).<ref>Thetford, 1977, p.422</ref>

Some of the RAF examples were allotted to 657 Squadron RAF for proving the use of helicopters in the Army Co-operation role, and two external stretchers could be fitted to the fuselage. 657 Squadron operated their Hoverfly IIs as Air Observation Posts, spotting for Army artillery units. The Hoverfly IIs remained in operation until April 1951, and one squadron example was displayed at the September 1950 [[Farnborough Air Show]].<ref>Thetford, 1976, p.603</ref> The FAA used their Hoverfly IIs in the training and liaison roles.

==Variants==
; XR-6 : prototype powered by a 225 h.p. Franklin 0-435-7 (1)
; XR-6A : as XR-6 but powered by the 240 h.p. 0-405-9 (5) of which 3 to the US Navy as XHOS-1
; YR-6A : as XR-6A with small changes (26) built by Nash-Kelvinator
; R-6A : production model (193) built by Nash-Kelvinator of which 36 to US Navy as HOS-1 and 27 to the RAF as Hoverfly II
; R-6B : projected variant with 225 h.p. 0-435-7, but not proceeded with


==Aircraft on display==

==Specifications (R-6A)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Thetford, 1977
|prime units?=imp

|genhide=

|crew=1
|capacity=1 observer
|length m=
|length ft=47
|length in=11
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|upper span m=
|upper span ft=
|upper span in=
|upper span note=
|mid span m=
|mid span ft=
|mid span in=
|mid span note=
|lower span m=
|lower span ft=
|lower span in=
|lower span note=
|swept m=
|swept ft=
|swept in=
|swept note=
|dia m=
|dia ft=
|dia in=
|dia note=
|width m=
|width ft=
|width in=
|width note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|swept area sqm=
|swept area sqft=
|swept area note=
|volume m3=
|volume ft3=
|volume note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=2600
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|lift kg=
|lift lb=
|lift note=
|more general=

|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Franklin 0-405-9
|eng1 type=piston
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=240 
|eng1 kn=
|eng1 lbf=
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=
|eng1 lbf-ab=

|eng2 number=
|eng2 name=
|eng2 type=
|eng2 kw=
|eng2 hp=
|eng2 kn=
|eng2 lbf=
|eng2 note=
|eng2 kn-ab=
|eng2 lbf-ab=

|eng3 number=
|eng3 name=
|eng3 type=
|eng3 kw=
|eng3 hp=
|eng3 kn=
|eng3 lbf=
|eng3 note=
|eng3 kn-ab=
|eng3 lbf-ab=
|more power=

|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=

|rot number=1 
|rot dia m=
|rot dia ft=38 
|rot dia in=0 
|rot area sqm=
|rot area sqft=
|rot area note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=100
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=10000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=

|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

|armament=
|guns=
|bombs=
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
}}


{{aircontent

|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
}}
==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last=Butler|first=Phil|title=Air Arsenal North America|year=2004|publisher=Midland Publishing|isbn=1-85780-163-6}}
*{{cite book|last=Swanborough|first=F.G.|title=United States Military Aircraft since 1909|year=1963|publisher=Putnam & Company Ltd|isbn=none}}
*{{cite book|last=Thetford|first=Owen|title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918|year=1976|publisher=Putnam & Company Ltd|isbn=0-370-10056-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Thetford|first=Owen|title=British Naval Aircraft since 1912|year=1977|publisher= Putnam & Company Ltd|isbn=0-370-30021-1}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
http://www.aerofiles.com/_sik.html Data and image of R-6

{{Sikorsky Aircraft}}
{{Aviation lists}}

[[Category:United States military utility aircraft 1940-1949]]
[[Category:Military helicopters]]