SIKORSKY HUS (UH-34) “SEA HORSE” H - HELICOPTER U – UTILITY S - SIKORSKY The UH-34 first flew on 8 March 1954.  The HUS/UH-34 entered Marine units in 1957.  This aircraft is best known for its service in Vietnam where at least 8 crew members earned the Navy Cross.  Beginning with operation “SHUFLY” which started in April 1962 through December 1964 the HUS was the main assault helicopter for the Marine Corps as well as carrying out large numbers of RVN operations.  A Marine HUS lifted Alan Shepherd Jr. out of the ocean on 3 May 1961 after completion of the Mercury 3 space flight; the first US manned sub-orbital flight. The HUS also participated in the Cuban Missile crisis, supporting disaster relief and rescues in the Pacific Northwest, Haiti, Honduras, Japan. SPECIFICATIONS ROTOR DIAMETER   56 FEET LENGTH    46’ 9” HEIGHT    15’ 11” EMPTY WEIGHT   7,900  LBS MAX WEIGHT    14,000  LBS POWERPLANT    1 x WRIGHT R1820 – 1525 HORSEPOWER CRUISE SPEED    94 MPH MAX SPEED    132 MPH SERVICE CEILING   14,300 RANGE     182  NAUTICAL MILES ARMAMENT    NONE, OR 1x M60 7.62 CAL MACHINE GUN