Seibel S-4

S-4/YH-24
S-4/YH-24
	YH-24 in flight
General information
Type	light helicopter
Manufacturer	Seibel Helicopter
Designer	Charles Seibel
Primary user	United States Army
Number built	2
History
First flight	January 1949
Developed into	Cessna CH-1

The Seibel S-4 was a two-bladed, single-engine helicopter built by Seibel Helicopter. Designed by Charles Seibel, the S-4 was evaluated by the United States Army under the designation YH-24 Sky Hawk, but would be rejected for service. The S-4B would serve as the basis for the design of the Cessna CH-1 Skyhook, the only helicopter Cessna ever produced.

Development

Charles Seibel began development on the S-4 after forming the Seibel Helicopter Company with funding from local Kansas oil investors. The S-4 was a continuation of his work on his previous design, the Seibel S-3, which he flew as a demonstrator for his design concepts; primarily a new design for a two-bladed rotor system and a simplified transmission. These features would also be incorporated into the S-4 design.

In January 1949, the S-4 lifted off the ground for the first time, piloted by Johnny Gibbs. In March 1950, certification tests were completed and on 23 April 1950, the S-4 received civil certification by the CAA. A larger engine, the Lycoming O-290B with 125 hp, would be installed in the aircraft, making it the S-4A.

Gov. Frank Carlson and Charles Seibel at the CAA Certification Ceremony

Based on feedback from the Army during the evaluation, Seibel, shortened the fuselage of the second YH-24 (51-5113) and widened the cockpit for a co-pilot's seat next to the pilot's seat. Seibel also replaced that aircraft's original wheeled, tricycle undercarriage with landing skids. This aircraft would become the S-4B.

Design

The S-4 frame was a welded steel-tube box frame, with two decks. A lower deck supported the control panel, pilot's seat, wheeled, tricycle landing gear, and a small passenger/cargo area accessible from the rear, and an upper deck carried the engine, the fuel and oil tanks, and supported the transmission and rotor assembly. A tapered, monocoque, alloy tail boom with a two-bladed antitorque tail rotor was attached at the rear of the upper deck.

Operational history

Both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force showed interest in the S-4. In early 1951, the U.S. Army ordered two examples for operational and engineering evaluation in the observation, utility, and aeromedical evacuation roles. The Army designated the S-4 as the YH-24 Sky Hawk. The first Sky Hawk, serial number 51-5112, was delivered to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in April 1951; the second YH-24, serial number 51-5113, was delivered to Wright Field.

Despite the simplicity of the S-4, the Army determined that it did not provide a sufficient payload capability and the aircraft were dropped from the inventory and returned to Seibel in 1952.

Variants

S-4: Original design, certified by the CAA in 1950.
S-4A: Featured an upgraded, 125 hp Lycoming O-290B engine.
S-4B: Modified airframe based on Army recommendations during YH-24 evaluation. Two-seat cockpit and skid landing gear.

Specifications (YH-24)

Orthographic projection of the Seibel S-4.

Data from U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 1
Length: 27 ft 10 in (8.48 m)
Height: 10 ft (3.0 m)
Empty weight: 960 lb (435 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,540 lb (699 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-290-D 4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 125 hp (93 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 29 ft 1.5 in (8.877 m)
Main rotor area: 666 sq ft (61.9 m²)

Performance

Maximum speed: 65 mph (105 km/h, 56 kn)
Cruise speed: 58 mph (93 km/h, 50 kn)
Range: 98 mi (158 km, 85 nmi)
Service ceiling: 4,300 ft (1,300 m)
Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s) ^[2]

References

^ Harding 1990, p.224
^ Bridgman 1951, p. 288c.

External links

[harding_p224-1] Harding 1990, p.224

[jawa51_p288c-2] Bridgman 1951, p. 288c.

[1]

[2]