The Workhorse is an American, tandem rotor helicopter, sometimes referred to as the Flying Banana.
The US Air Force first purchased the H-21, a large, heavy-lift, tandem-rotor transport in the 1950s. Helicopter engineer Frank Nicholas Piasecki designed the H-21 Workhorse as a multi-role transport aircraft able to carry 20 fully-equipped troops or 12 liter patients and two medical attendants. Modifications to the H-21 also permitted crews to perform rescue, resupply, and assault operations under a variety of conditions. Service members gave the airframe the name Workhorse due to its robust structure and the many troops it transported during the early years of the Vietnam War.
Airmen of the 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing, once stationed at Hill Air Force Base, trained for rescue and recovery with H-21s. Much of this training occurred at the Utah Test and Training Range, however, sometimes these Airmen applied their skills to real world rescue operations. Notably, Hill Air Force Base participated in earthquake relief missions during the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake in the Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana border area with H-21As. This aircraft has been restored to reflect a Workhorse that participated in this important rescue mission.
Head of Piasecki Aircraft, Frank Nicholas Piasecki, perfected the tandem rotor design with this heavy-duty transport helicopter in the 1940s. To ensure the rotors did not interfere with each other, the ends of the aircraft curved upward. This distinctive curve earned the helicopter the nickname the “Flying Banana.”
This aircraft is on loan from the U.S. Air Force Heritage Program.
Serial Number: 56-2142
Manufacturer: Piasecki Aircraft
Primary Function: Military Transport and Rescue
Crew: Three
Engines: One Wright R-1820-103 radial; 1,425 horsepower
Wingspan: Rotor Diameter: 44 ft per rotor
Length: 52 ft 7 in
Height: 15 ft 4 in
Weight: 8,000 lbs.; Maximum Takeoff Weight: 14,700 lbs.
Speed: 90 mph (cruising); 132 mph (maximum)
Range: 450 miles
Service Ceiling: 19,200 ft
Armament: None
Payload: Up to 20 passengers
Cost: $406,000
Years of Service: 1952 – 1965
The CH-21C Workhorse, also known as the “Flying Banana,” was built as a H-21C Shawnee by Vertol Aircraft Corporation for service in the United States (US) Army. After being retired from military service, the aircraft was obtained by Aero Union Corporation of Chino, California. It was traded to the United States Air Force (USAF) Museum system in June 1987 and assigned to Hill Aerospace Museum for static display. It arrived at Hill Aerospace Museum in July 1987, when it was repainted to resemble a H-21B.
The aircraft was originally a H-21B manufactured by Piasecki Helicopter Corporation. It was delivered to the USAF in August 1957, then it was assigned to the 20th Helicopter Squadron of the Tactical Air Command at Sewart Air Force Base. While serving with the 20th, the aircraft was briefly deployed to Myrtle Beach Air Force Base and Cuba.
In January 1960, the aircraft was transferred to the 4510th Combat Training Wing (CTW) at Luke Air Force Base. The aircraft was then passed to the Ogden Air Material Area at Hill Air Force Base. In July 1962, it was handed over to the 2849th Air Base Wing at Hill Air Force Base. The aircraft was redesigned to a CH-21B in 1962 and was operated to support the Utah Testing and Training Range until it retired at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in April 1971. The CH-21B was dropped from the USAF inventory in November 1971.
During restoration of the CH-21B, the rotor blades were refurbished by members of the former 419th Combat Logistics Support Squadron (CLSS) from Hill Air Force Base and reattached in May 2006.
The Workhorse is an American, tandem rotor helicopter, sometimes referred to as the Flying Banana.
Piasecki Helicopter made the Workhorse between 1952 and 1959, with a total of 770 produced for America and her allies.
The Workhouse was able to carry 20 fully equipped troops or up to 12 stretchers for medical evacuation.