The world's first production helicopter, the first helicopter designed specifically for the military, and the only US helicopter to see action in World War II, the XR-4 was developed from the VS-300, the world's first practical helicopter. To demonstrate what a giant leap the XR-4 was over the VS-300, company pilot C. L. "Les" Morris flew the prototype 761 miles from the Stratford, Conn., factory to Wright Field, Ohio, in five days and 16 flights. Igor Sikorsky was the passenger on the last hop from Springfield, Ohio, to Wright Field. Orville Wright was present when the XR-4 was formally accepted on May 30, 1942. Three YR-4As and 27 YR-4Bs were ordered in 1943. These were sent to Burma (six), Alaska, Wright Field (six), and other places and other services (three in all to the Navy and designated HNS) to test the aircraft in various conditions. The first landing on a ship came on May 6, 1943, when USAAF Capt. H. Franklin Gregory touched down on the stern of the tanker SS Bunker Hill riding at anchor in Long Island Sound. The first combat rescue came on April 25–26, 1944, when 2d Lt. Carter Harman lifted a downed L-1 pilot and the three injured British soldiers he was flying out of the jungle in Burma. Col. Philip Cochran, commander of the 1st Air Commando Group, later wrote, "Today, the ‘egg-beater' went into action, and the damn thing acted like it had good sense." One hundred R-4Bs were ordered, and the type was used by the AAF, US Navy and Coast Guard (as HNS-1s), and the British Royal Navy. Later, the R-4s were used for helicopter training. Some were in use as late as 1948.
| Contractors: |
Vought-Sikorsky Division of United Aircraft. |
| Locations Built: |
Stratford, Conn. |
| Number Built: (USAF) |
131 (73) |
| First Flight: |
January 14, 1942 |
| First Flight Model: |
XR-4 |
| First Flight Location: |
Stratford, Conn. |
| First Flight Pilot: |
Unconfirmed but likely C. L. "Les" Morris or possibly Igor Sikorsky |
| Models/Variants: |
YR-4B, R-4B |
| Powerplant: |
One Warner R-550-3 Super Scarab seven-cylinder radial of 200 hp |
| Rotor Diameter : |
38 ft 0 in. |
| Length: |
35 ft 5 in. |
| Height: |
12 ft 5 in. |
| Weight: |
2,540 lb gross |
| Armament: |
None |
| Accommodation: |
Two (pilot and observer/passenger, side by side) |
| Cost: |
Unconfirmed |
| Max. Speed: |
81 mph |
| Range: |
230 mi. |
| Ceiling: |
8,000 ft. |
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