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Frank Piasecki was one of the pioneers of the American helicopter industry. Influenced by the autogyro designs of Pitcairn and Kellett in the 1930s, Piasecki focused on true vertical flight. After college studies in aeronautical engineering and several years of on-the-job training at various aviation firms, he formed his own venture in 1940 to develop a practical helicopter. The Piasecki-Venzie Engineering Forum began in Pennsylvania as an after-hours confederation of engineers and draftsmen. Their efforts resulted in the PV-2 design, the United States’ second successful helicopter, which flew in 1943. Further studies eventually led to concentration on the tandem-rotor configuration, which eliminates the tail rotor required to counter the torque of single-rotor designs. In 1946, the growing P-V company became the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation.
Following several tandem-rotor prototypes and the utility HUP series for the U.S. Navy, the Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was introduced in 1952. Commonly known as the “flying banana” for its shape, it was Piasecki’s largest helicopter to date. It was designed and built to be a multi-mission helicopter for the U.S. Air Force, able to carry fourteen soldiers or comparable weight of cargo, and robust enough for harsh Arctic operations. Seeing its first military service in the French Air Force during the Algerian War in 1957, the H-21 pioneered some of the helicopter-based tactics that would later be employed on a much larger scale in the Vietnam War.
The more powerful H-21B model was introduced in 1962, soon redesignated as CH-21B. It deployed to Vietnam as a troop carrier and would live up to its workhorse name until the arrival of the Bell UH-1 Huey. Around 550 of the versatile choppers were made by the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation, 163 of which were the H-21B model for the Air Force.
Frank Piasecki departed the company in 1955, and his namesake firm adopted the name Vertol in 1956. It was acquired by The Boeing Company in 1960.
The Museum’s H-21B was built in 1953 and served with the U.S. Air Force through at least 1970. After its military career, it had several private owners. It was on static display at the Issaquah Skyport for several years before its purchase by the Museum in 1987.
Frank Piasecki was one of the pioneers of the American helicopter industry. Influenced by the autogyro designs of Pitcairn and Kellett in the 1930s, Piasecki focused on true vertical flight. After college studies in aeronautical engineering and several years of on-the-job training at various aviation firms, he formed his own venture in 1940 to develop a practical helicopter. The Piasecki-Venzie Engineering Forum began in Pennsylvania as an after-hours confederation of engineers and draftsmen. Their efforts resulted in the PV-2 design, the United States’ second successful helicopter, which flew in 1943. Further studies eventually led to concentration on the tandem-rotor configuration, which eliminates the tail rotor required to counter the torque of single-rotor designs. In 1946, the growing P-V company became the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation.
Following several tandem-rotor prototypes and the utility HUP series for the U.S. Navy, the Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was introduced in 1952. Commonly known as the “flying banana” for its shape, it was Piasecki’s largest helicopter to date. It was designed and built to be a multi-mission helicopter for the U.S. Air Force, able to carry fourteen soldiers or comparable weight of cargo, and robust enough for harsh Arctic operations. Seeing its first military service in the French Air Force during the Algerian War in 1957, the H-21 pioneered some of the helicopter-based tactics that would later be employed on a much larger scale in the Vietnam War.
The more powerful H-21B model was introduced in 1962, soon redesignated as CH-21B. It deployed to Vietnam as a troop carrier and would live up to its workhorse name until the arrival of the Bell UH-1 Huey. Around 550 of the versatile choppers were made by the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation, 163 of which were the H-21B model for the Air Force.
Frank Piasecki departed the company in 1955, and his namesake firm adopted the name Vertol in 1956. It was acquired by The Boeing Company in 1960.
The Museum’s H-21B was built in 1953 and served with the U.S. Air Force through at least 1970. After its military career, it had several private owners. It was on static display at the Issaquah Skyport for several years before its purchase by the Museum in 1987.
