Touchdown Aviation

Helicopters were developed and built during the first half-century of flight, with some reaching limited production, but it was not until 1942 that a helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky reached full-scale production, with 131 aircraft built.

Though most earlier designs used more than one main rotor, it was the single main rotor with antitorque tail rotor configuration of this design that would come to be recognized worldwide as the helicopter.

US Navy - Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever (PV-18) - Tucson - Davis-Monthan AFB - Arizona, October 11, 1992 - On display at the Pima Air & Space Museum.

Aeroflot - Mil Mi-26 - Farnborough (FAB / EGLF), England, September 2, 1984 - The mighty Mil Mi-26 made an imposing appearance at the International Air Show.

US Navy - Kaman SH-2F Seasprite (K-888) - Edwards - AFB (EDW / KEDW), California, October 29, 1989 - Of HSL35/Det 2 (Magicians) based at NAS North Island, CA. Later upgraded to SH-2G specification.

France Navy - Sud SA-321G Super Frelon - Middle Wallop (EGVP), England, July 6, 1984 - Of 32 Flottille based at Lanveoc where it was last noted in storage. Seen here at the Army Air Corps Open Day.

Poland Air Force - Mil Mi-8S - Warsaw - Okecie / Frederic Chopin (WAW / EPWA), Poland, October 1, 1991 - Of 36 splt taxiing for take off.

Germany Army - VFW-Fokker CH-53GS (S-65C-1) - Duxford (EGSU), England, May 6, 2001 - Of HFR-15 based at Rheine-Bentlage. This helicopter was written off on Dec 21, 2002.

Netherlands Air Force - Boeing CH-47D Chinook (414), Mildenhall (MHZ / GXH / EGUN), England, May 24, 1997 - Of 298 Squadron based at Soesterberg.

LINK: Photos courtesy of Mike Freer at Touchdown Aviation - Thank you Mike!