So there have been some off the wall conversions done in the past, but I think this backcountry modification may be the ultimate. If you look at the pics of the beast you may see something you don't see everyday: an STC'd Awning! Gosh I really want a pop out awning for my wing or fuselage. It would just be the cat's meow when camping. STCs must have been far easier in the 70's.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/34753/the-winnebago-heli-home-was-a-real-flying-rv-that-needs-to-make-a-comeback-in-2020

Marines had those, without the porch, in Vietnam. Rough way to go to war.

Friend of mine briefly operated a S55 for spraying. It was built like a Sherman tank. 800hp Wright radial engine if I recall correctly. I believe the USMC mostly used the S58 which was a turbine version that had a tail wheel but I could be wrong.

gbflyer wrote:Friend of mine briefly operated a S55 for spraying. It was built like a Sherman tank. 800hp Wright radial engine if I recall correctly. I believe the USMC mostly used the S58 which was a turbine version that had a tail wheel but I could be wrong.

Yes, S58 is a tail wheel. I snapped a photo of this one working on a fire in North Carolina a few years ago.

gbflyer wrote:Friend of mine briefly operated a S55 for spraying. It was built like a Sherman tank. 800hp Wright radial engine if I recall correctly. I believe the USMC mostly used the S58 which was a turbine version that had a tail wheel but I could be wrong.

Sikosky S58 was the H34 Chocktaw / Seahorse.
Wright 1820 radial in the nose, 1525 hp.
The Brits made some (westland, under license) turbine powered.
I believe some H34's were later converted to turbine power also.

The Brit version was the Westland Wessex. I flew one a bit and it was totally cool. One of those rare helicopters that was vastly overpowered. It had two Gnome engines running at 50% power, so if you lost one, it was a non-event. It was an incredibly smooth helicopter with very light responsive controls. It was unfortunately, very ugly. The engine installation made it look like it had the classic Hapsburg lip. Would have been totally appropriate for the Royal Flight.