UH-46D Sea Knight
| Description | Twin-turbine, tandem-rotor transport helicopter |
|---|---|
| Program status | Improvement kit development and fabrication; customer support |
| Customer | U.S. Naval Air Systems Command |
| Operators | U.S. Navy (UH-46D, HH-46D); U.S. Marine Corps (CH-46E) |
| Missions | U.S. Navy: Vertical replenishment (VERTREP), vertical on-board delivery (VOD), search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (medevac), combat support, special weapons carriage, special warfare and general utility. U.S. Marine Corps: Combat assault, SAR, medevac; and movement of troops, ammunition, supplies and equipment on the battlefield. |
| Production, U.S. | |
| Start | 1960 |
| Completion | 1971 |
| Models | Total built -- 666 Prototype model designations, United States: 107 and YCH-1A. Prototype model designations, United States: CH-46A, UH-46A, CH-46D, UH-46D, HH-46D, CH-46E; Canada: CH-113A; Sweden: HKP-4 [U.S. Marine Corps CH-46E created through CILOP (conversion in lieu of production) program, 1977-1983, eliminating all As-, Fs- and CH-46Ds.] |
| Production, Japan | |
| Start | 1961 |
| Completion | Feb. 16, 1990 |
| Models | Total built -- 160 Variations fabricated under license by Kawasaki Heavy Industries included KV-107IIs for Japan and Saudi Arabia. |
| 1st flight | April 1958 -- Model 107 (civil predecessor to CH-46A) |
| 1st rollout | April 1962 -- CH-46A |
| 1st deliveries | May 1962 -- U.S. Marine Corps CH-46A June 1964 -- U.S. Navy UH-46A |
| Milestones | |
| 1st flight | April 1958 -- Model 107 (civil predecessor to CH-46A) |
| 1st rollout | April 1962 -- CH-46A |
| 1st deliveries | May 1962 -- U.S. Marine Corps CH-46A June 1964 -- U.S. Navy UH-46A |
| ENGINES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | General Electric | |
| Model | Two T58-GE-16 | |
| Max shp (kw) | 1,870 | (1,395) |
| Cont shp (kw) | 1,770 | (1,320) |
| TRANSMISSIONS | ||
| Max shp (kw) | 2,800 | (2,088) |
| Rotor System | ||
| Blades per hub |
|
3 |
| Construction |
|
fiberglass |
| Speed, rpm |
|
264 |
| Diameter, ft(m) | 51.0 | (15.54) |
| Disc area ft2 (m2) | 2,042.8 | (189.8) |
| Blade folding |
|
powered |
| PERFORMANCE [at 20,800 lbs (9,455 kg)] | ||
| SL cruise, kts (km/h) | 134 | 248 |
| Vmcp, kts (km/h) | 143 | (265) |
| Rate of climb, fpm (m/m) | 2,045 | (625) |
| Service ceiling, ft (m) | 14,000 | (4,267) |
| HIGE, ft (m) | 14,000 | (4,267) |
| HIGE, ISA + 20 degrees C, ft (m) | 12,580 | (3,834) |
| HOGE, ft (m) | 11,970 | (3,649) |
| HOGE, ISA + 20 degrees C, ft (m) | 8,600 | (2,621) |
| Range, SL and ISA, nm (km) | 365 | (676) |
| ACCOMMODATION | ||
| Cockpit -- crew seats |
|
2 |
| Cabin -- troop seats, litters |
|
25/15 |
| DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL | ||
| Length, fuselage, ft (m) | 45.67 | (13.92) |
| Length, rotors turning, ft (m) | 84.33 | (25.70) |
| Dist. between rotor centers, ft (m) | 33.33 | (10.16) |
| wheel base, ft (m) | 24.83 | (7.57) |
| width, fuselage, ft (m) | 7.25 | (2.21) |
| width, landing gear, ft (m) | 14.52 | (4.43) |
| width, sponsons, ft (m) | 14.75 | (4.50) |
| Height, to top of aft hub, ft (m) 16.13 |
|
(4.92) |
| Ground clearance, aft rotor, ft (m) | 16.97 | (5.17) |
| Ground clearance, fuselage, ft (m) | 1.30 | (0.41) |
| DIMENSIONS, INTERNAL | ||
| Length, max, ft (m) | 24.17 | (7.37) |
| width, max, ft (m) | 6.00 | (1.83) |
| Height, max, ft (m) | 6.00 | (1.83) |
| WEIGHTS | ||
| Max gross, lbs (kg) | 24,300 | (11,023) |
| Empty, lbs (kg) | 15,537 | (7,048) |
| Useful load, lbs (kg) | 8,763 | (3,975) |
| Cargo hook, lbs (kg) | l0,000 | (4,536) |
| FUEL CAPACITY | ||
| Sponsons, gals (liters) | 660 | (2,498) |