HUP-2 Retriever

The HUP‑2 Retriever was a utility helicopter produced by Piasecki Helicopter Corporation in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Developed from the earlier HUP‑1, the Retriever entered service with the United States Navy in 1949, where it was designated the HUP‑2 to distinguish it from its civilian counterpart. The aircraft featured a distinctive twin‑rotor, tandem‑mounted design that eliminated the need for a tail rotor, giving it exceptional stability and simplified maintenance. Power was supplied by a single Pratt & Whitney R‑985 radial engine delivering 450 horsepower, driving two three‑bladed rotors mounted on separate shafts. Its compact size, short take‑off and landing capabilities, and generous internal cargo volume made it ideal for ship‑board operations, search‑and‑rescue missions, and light transport duties. Over 300 units were built before production ended in 1955. The HUP‑2’s innovative rotor configuration influenced later Piasecki and Boeing designs, most notably the tandem‑rotor CH‑47 Chinook, cementing its place as a transitional platform that demonstrated the practicality of twin‑rotor helicopters in naval aviation. Its reliability and ease of handling earned it a reputation among deck crews, and the type remained in active duty until 1965, bridging early single‑rotor transports and the larger heavy‑lift helicopters that followed.