Piasecki HUP Retriever

The Piasecki HUP‑3 Retriever, often simply called the HUP, was a utility helicopter produced by the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Developed from the earlier HRP‑1 “Rescue” and HRP‑2 “Rope”, the HUP first flew on 16 May 1949 and entered United States Navy service in 1950 as the HUP‑3. Its tandem‑rotor configuration—two large rotors mounted fore and aft on a common shaft—gave it excellent lift capability, short‑takeoff performance, and a compact footprint suitable for shipboard operations. The aircraft was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney R‑1340-AN-1 radial engine delivering 600 hp, driving both rotors through a gearbox and allowing a maximum speed of about 115 mph with a service ceiling of 15 000 ft. Designed for utility roles, the HUP could transport four crew members, perform rescue missions, carry cargo, and operate as an observation platform; some variants were equipped with a small cabin door for cargo loading and a winch for hoist work. Though only 87 units were built, the HUP demonstrated the practical advantages of tandem rotors and influenced later Piasecki designs such as the H‑21 and the iconic CH‑47 Chinook, cementing its place in rotor‑craft development history.

Piasecki Helicopter Corporation

Piasecki HUP Retriever

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Production & History

Design & Classification