The U.S. ARMY's CH-54 Skycrane Helicopter: History and Contributions

The U.S. ARMY officially retired the CH-54 "Skycrane" from inventory in the early 1990s. This paper examines the unique history and numerous contributions of the CH-54, supported by interviews from several people directly responsible for its development, testing, and utilization. The acquisition and fielding are examined, including deployment to Vietnam. The Crane's dimensional and performance specifications are reviewed, as well as its capability for precision placement or extraction of loads from untenable areas. The Crane set several performance records and the techniques of one such record-breaking flight are also discussed. The Skycrane left active duty in 1979 and all helicopters were transferred to National Guard units. Ten years later, the final CH-54 distribution within the National Guard structure is examined as well as the final disposition of the aircraft. The reasons for the Crane's retirement are addressed, including a summary of cost savings from retrieved aircraft during the Vietnam War. Finally, the utilization of the remaining airframes within civilian aviation is examined.