HUP-3 Retriever

The HUP‑3 Retriever was a utility helicopter built by Piasecki Helicopter Corporation in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Developed from the earlier HUP‑1 Navy‑type helicopter, the HUP‑3 incorporated a more powerful Pratt & Whitney R‑985 Wasp Junior radial engine, a strengthened airframe, and a larger cabin that could accommodate up to six passengers or a modest cargo load. First flown in 1949, the aircraft entered service with the United States Navy as a ship‑borne rescue and utility platform, where its folding rotors and compact dimensions allowed storage aboard destroyers and carriers. The Retriever’s distinctive tandem‑rotor configuration—derived from Piasecki’s pioneering designs—provided excellent lift capacity, stability, and short‑takeoff performance, traits that proved valuable for anti‑submarine warfare support, search‑and‑rescue missions, and airborne personnel transport. Although production numbers remained low, the HUP‑3 demonstrated the practicality of twin‑rotor helicopters in naval operations and influenced later Piasecki models such as the H‑21 and the groundbreaking H‑59. Its legacy lies in confirming the operational benefits of coaxial‑type lift systems and paving the way for modern multi‑mission naval helicopters. The HUP‑3 also served as a testbed for advanced rotor‑blade metallurgy and control systems that later entered mainstream service, underscoring Piasecki’s role as an innovator in rotary‑wing technology.