HRS-1

The Sikorsky HRS‑1, introduced in 1944, was the United States Navy’s first purpose‑built rescue helicopter and marked a pivotal step in rotor‑craft development. Originating from the company’s earlier R‑4 model, the HRS‑1 incorporated a more powerful 225‑hp Lycoming XO‑435 engine, a strengthened airframe, and a larger 24‑foot main rotor that delivered improved lift capacity and stability in adverse weather. Designed for shipboard operations, the aircraft featured a compact, corrosion‑resistant fuselage, folding rotor blades for storage aboard naval vessels, and a winch system capable of lifting a single survivor from the sea. Its first operational deployment came with Rescue Squadron 2 (Rescue 2) during the final months of World War II, where it proved essential for retrieving downed pilots and shipwrecked personnel in the Pacific theater. Post‑war, the HRS‑1 served as a testbed for advanced rescue techniques, influencing later Sikorsky models such as the S‑55 and the iconic UH‑60 Black Hawk. The HRS‑1’s successful integration of dedicated rescue equipment demonstrated the strategic value of helicopters in maritime and combat rescue missions, cementing its legacy as a cornerstone of modern aviation search‑and‑rescue operations.