Design and development
Powered by a Continental R-975-34, the S-53 was a development of the S-51 designed for use on aircraft carriers. The tail rotor was raised above head-height to give more clearance and the landing gear was made stronger to enable operations from a moving deck. Other enhancements were a folding main rotor and the option for amphibious landing gear. Two prototypes were ordered by the United States Navy as the XHJS-1 and the first flew on 22 September 1947. The type was evaluated against the Piasecki XHJP-1. With the Piasecki design being ordered as the HUP-1 by the Navy, the S-53 was not developed further.Variants
;XHJS-1 :Prototype naval utility helicopter, two built.Specifications (XHJS-1)
See also
References
;Notes ;Bibliography * United States military helicopters 1940s United States military utility aircraft HJS 1940s United States helicopters Single-engined piston helicopters Aircraft first flown in 1947 {{aviation-stub