Piasecki H-21
The Piasecki H-21, known as Workhorse or as Shawnee, was designed and built by Piasecki Heicopter later known as Boeing Vertol. Commonly called the “flying banana”, it was a multi-mission helicopter, utilizing wheels, skis and floats usually used for Arctic rescue.
Piasecki designed a series of tandem rotor helicopters and sold it to the US Navy. It started with the HRP-1 of 1944 and in 1949, Piasecki provided the H-21 Workhorse to the USAF which was an improved and all metal version of the HRP-1.
The H-21 saw active service during the Algerian War in 1956 with the French Air Force and in Vietnam.
Specifications: CH-21C
Length: 52 ft 6 in
Rotor diameter: 44 ft
Height: 15 ft 9 in
Disc area: 3,041 sq ft
Powerplant: 1 x Wright R-1820-103 radial engine
Maximum speed: 127 mph
Range: 265 mi
Service ceiling: 9,450 ft
Filed Under History
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