General Information

Serial #

783C017

Part Number

3

Total Parts

5

AKA

Dipping sonar

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal structure and components with a synthetic covering.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

144.0 cm

Width

N/A

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

40.0 cm

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Aviation

Category

Aircraft parts

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

ca. 1966-2018

Canada

The Sea King owes its origins to a virtually revolutionary concept submitted to the United States Navy in 1957 by the Sikorsky Aircraft division of the American aeronautical giant United Aircraft. Delivered from 1961, the Sea King was one of the most advanced helicopters of its time. Powerful, fast, rugged and reliable, it has been adopted by the armed forces of many countries, including Canada. United Aircraft of Canada, another United Aircraft subsidiary, assembles almost all Sea Kings ordered by the Canadian military - a Canadian first. The Sea King donated to the museum is one of those flown by Brigadier-General Lise Bourgon for over 20 years. Throughout her career spanning just over 30 years, this Quebecer did much to increase the rights and responsibilities of women in the Canadian Armed Forces. The country's first lieutenant-colonel, colonel and brigadier-general, Bourgon is also the first woman to command a squadron, after becoming the first woman to command an operational squadron equipped with Sea Kings. This Sea King was still operational in 2018, more than 50 years after it entered service. The features that have made the Sea King such a success around the world have led to the development of civilian versions, the world's first helicopters designed specifically for passenger transport. A well-known Canadian user was Okanagan Helicopters, at one time the world's largest civilian helicopter operator.

Function

Unit operates by being dropped into the water, by means of a cable, and was used to detect submarines in the area by sending and receiving pressure signals. Unit consists of a "projector" to send the signals and a hydrophone to receive them back.

Technical

The Sikorsky S-61 family of military and civil helicopters is one of the most successful and versatile of the 20th century. The Sea King is the world's first helicopter to carry both sonar equipment and torpedoes. In the past, anti-submarine helicopters worked in duos, with one helicopter carrying the sonar equipment and the other the torpedoes or depth charges. The Sea King is also the first helicopter to feature an automatic/motorized main rotor blade folding mechanism - an invaluable asset when operating from relatively small warships. It is also one of the world's first amphibious helicopters. The success of this helicopter in Canada is closely linked to the development of a rapid deck landing and tie-down system that enables it to land in bad weather. This technology, often known as the Beartrap and much improved over the decades, is among the most important naval combat innovations of the 20th century in Canada. The navies of at least twelve countries in Oceania, Europe, Asia and the Americas, including the USA, use these Canadian devices.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Repeating, in red on the sections of the hydrophone and on the projector end: "NO TOUCH"/ An "N" inside of a circle on the top rim of the hyrophone/ In raised lettering on the end of the projector: "NSN 5845-01-344-9393/ MX-5171A/AQS-502/ PROJECTOR./ SONAR/ MFR 77068/ PROJECTEUR./ SONAR/ PT/PT 31962CC/ SER 783C017 CONTR/ DND CANADA MDN"/ White inked numbers around sections of the projector/ Painted on a piece inside the hydrophone: "EJZ 002"

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Prodominantly black with red markings and stripes, some white markings, and a yellow band around the top of the hydrophone end.

Decoration

N/A