CH-54B Tarhe - Fort Rucker, AL - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

Initial work on the Sikorsky "sky-crane" helicopters began in 1958. The first flight of the turboshaft-powered S-64 Skycrane was 9 May 1962, with the United States Army eventually purchasing 105, designating them CH-54. Used in Vietnam for transport and downed-aircraft retrieval, it was highly successful, thanks to the 'adaptable' nature of the module system first conceived by General James M. Gavin in his book Airborne Warfare in 1947. Early pods could not carry troops and external sling-loads at the same time.

The Skycrane can not only hold its cargo up and tight against its center spine to lessen drag and eliminate the pendulum effect when flying forward, it can winch vehicles up and down from a hovering position, so the helicopter does not need to land. Due to budget cuts the Heavy Lift Helicopter (HLH) program was canceled and the CH-54s not upgraded with larger engines. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook gradually supplemented it in combat and eventually replaced it in Regular Army aviation units, although CH-54 Skycranes remained in Army National Guard service until the early 1990s.

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More info from the Sikorsky website. (visit link)

The aircraft on display was taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army with s/n 68-18438. By 1992 it was located at the United States Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, AL.

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Type of Aircraft: (make/model): CH-54B Tarhe Tail Number: (S/N): 68-18438 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): U. S. Army Aviation Museum inside / outside: outside Other Information:: The aircraft is part of the outdoors display of the U. S. Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker. Access restrictions: The aircraft is displayed outside. There is no fence. Daylight hours would be best for visiting. The aircraft is located on an active Army base.

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/24/2015 C&RQ visited it