Military Helicopters

Over the past eight decades, developments in vertical lift aircraft--both helicopters and vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) planes--have given the American military unparalleled capabilities on the modern battlefield. The U.S. has led the world in vertical lift technologies with the help of some of the brightest minds in this field--Igor I. Sikorsky, Arthur M. Young, Frank N. Piasecki, Charles H. Kaman and Stanley Hiller, Jr., to name a few--and by having the industrial prowess to make their concepts reality. This book provides a concise historical survey, including technical specifications, drawings, and photographs of every type of helicopter and V/STOL aircraft developed for the U.S. military, from the earliest examples tested in 1941 and 1942, up to the newest prototypes.

During the Vietnam War, helicopters proved their worth to the US military. With brave crews aboard, they hovered low in the skies to rescue pilots and soldiers who were frighteningly close to enemy forces. How fascinating to think that the first helicopters couldn't even stay upright! In this book, readers will discover what it was like for the inventors of the helicopter, while also learning how this huge machine became the military necessity it is today. Exciting content, along with full-color photographs of daring rescues and high-tech equipment, will inspire readers to look to the skies. Detailed sidebars and fact boxes will keep readers engaged from cover to cover.

The world encyclopedia of military helicopters : a complete reference guide to over 65 years of military helicopters, from the first types deployed in World War II to the specialized aircraft in service today / Francis Crosby.

Over the past eight decades, developments in vertical lift aircraft--both helicopters and vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) planes--have given the American military unparalleled capabilities on the modern battlefield. The U.S. has led the world in vertical lift technologies with the help of some of the brightest minds in this field--Igor I. Sikorsky, Arthur M. Young, Frank N. Piasecki, Charles H. Kaman and Stanley Hiller, Jr., to name a few--and by having the industrial prowess to make their concepts reality. This book provides a concise historical survey, including technical specifications, drawings, and photographs of every type of helicopter and V/STOL aircraft developed for the U.S. military, from the earliest examples tested in 1941 and 1942, up to the newest prototypes.

Examines how helicopters are used in modern warfare to carry troops and supplies, serve as reconnaissance and fighter craft, hunt and destroy submarines, and attack enemy ships.

The helicopter has been aptly described as 'the toy that grew up'. It really did begin as a toy, for the first really successful helicopter was a model made by two Frenchmen in the 18th century. In this fact-filled guide, each aircraft is covered in detail, with annotated colour profile artworks, colour and black-&-white photographs, feature boxes outlining its development, technical specifications, performance data, and variants.

The helicopter came on the scene too late to play other than a minor role in the Second World War but by the Korean conflict the Bell H-13 Sioux, OH-23 Raven, and Sikorsky H–19 Chickasaw were in service.It was in Vietnam that the US military helicopters really came into their own and the best known were the Bell UH-1 Iriquois (known as the Huey), the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, and the massive CH-37 Mojave. The USAF combat search and rescue Jolly Green Giant was indispensable.Attack helicopters have evolved from the early Huey Cobra or Snake and the Boeing AH-64 Apache in the late 80s to when the Sikorsky UH-60 series became the military general purpose chopper.All these formidable aircraft and many more are covered in detail in this superbly illustrated and comprehensive book.