derelict Uh-19 and UH-34's

[Nathan]

Looking to see if there are any derelict UH-19 or UH-34 in the U.S.? Just curious doing a small list of derelict aircraft still around.

Thanks,
Nate

[JohnB]

The best place for H-34s was in Tucson near D-M, but they scrapped the lot of them a year or so ago.
There were dozens of H-19s at Chandler Memorial Field (not the other Chandler airport) south of Phoenix. I understand they were moved to Casa Grande.
Hope springs eternal for the S-55 turbine conversion program that was offered 10-15 years ago, so someone took the trouble to move them..

If you go onto the FAA database and check the type, you'll see clusters of them held by operators as spares for parts or potential turbine conversions.
Until recently, a operator in Brewster, Washington was using H-19s to dry cherries. He lost 3 in a couple of years (one fatal when it hit a power line) so I don't know if he has any airworthy examples remaining.

[Craig59]

The vast majority of the 100 plus H-34 airframes in Tucson - including some in-country Vietnam vets - were indeed scrapped more than two years ago and the scrap metal sold to...wait for it...Vietnam.

The 75, H-19 airframes held in reserve by Washington state based Whisper-Jet are indeed stored in Casa Grande, AZ. though the liklihood of any further S-55QT conversions seems slim.

Golden Wings Aviation in Brewster owns at least 10, H-19's for their cherry-drying operation with probably around 7 or 8 of those being airworthy but, with more on the way.

As far as derelicts of both types, yes, several of each at various locations around the U.S. My site page here: http://www.hrs-helicopter.com/index_010.htm covers former USMC, HRS's. As to others, perhaps Sid (SIDSIKO) will chime in.

[Brad]

If anybody knows of a flying H-34 for sale, I would be interested to hear about it.

[JohnB]

If anybody knows of a flying H-34 for sale, I would be interested to hear about it.

One was just donated to a museum...I don't know if they tried to sell it beforehand.

[Tiger Tim]

If anybody knows of a flying H-34 for sale, I would be interested to hear about it.

There's a turbine one listed in a recent (if not the latest) issue of the Controller. Should be able to pick up a copy at your nearest fancy FBO.

-Tim

[JohnB]

There are always turbine (PT-6 TwinPacs) S-58s for sale in Trade-A-Plane, the trouble is with the expensive engine conversion, they're too expensive to be kept as toys.
Still for static, I'd bet you could get a retired turbine-modified airframe and put on original engine doors and have a stock looking H-34.

[SIDSIKO]

Hi Brad,

There are about 5 or 6 airworthy S-58's up at Brewster, WA owned by Versatile Investments, used for Cherry drying. Sadly, the owner died in a non aviation related accident last year, so the future of the fleet is uncertain at the moment.

[Pogo]

Would it be too OT to inquire as to the workings of cherry-drying ops with a big Sikorsky wind whacker - I'm getting curious now? As a Texan I know nothing about cherries except that grocery stores and DQ produce them.

EDIT: Well by golly, good old Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWHP9cDqrao But why do they need to be dried? Oh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQnqFiY2G5Y

Dang, amazing the things you learn around here.

[JohnB]

The main point as I understand it regarding Sikorskys is you CAN TRY to dry them with a Robinson....but with limited rotor wash and the small area under the rotor disk, it would be like trying to dry your car with your wife's hair drier.

The larger helicopters can do it much better in less time. And a Sikorsky costs less to buy than a R-22/44.

[SIDSIKO]

The Sikorsky S-55 and S-58 make ideal Cherry driers, so I'm told, due to the fact that the rotors turn slower than other turbine types and thus move the rain water off the crop with less force, keeping more of the crop on the trees. If moisture is still on the crop when the sun comes out, there is a chance of cherries drying out and the skins cracking, that's why they fly the orchards and get rid of the rainwater before any damage is done.

[ALOHADAVE]

Vietnam - Abandoned Sikorsky H-34
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/560416747352799428/

[Jerry O'Neill]

That is an S-55/H-19, not an H-34.

[SIDSIKO]

Worse than that! It's a Westland Whirlwind (UK licensed built S-55) and is in the former Yugoslavia, certainly not Vietnam

[Jerry O'Neill]

Ha Ha! I didn't look that closely!!!