AVIATION: The Self-Supporting Helicopter

The first U.S. helicopter designed specifically as a commercial airliner last week showed off its flying ability outside the Sikorsky Aircraft factory in Stratford, Conn. For helicopter airlines, the S-61 promises to do what the famed Douglas DC-3 did for regular airlines: make hauling passengers a profitable business.

Traffic on the nation’s three helicopter airlines in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, which shuttle passengers from one airport to another and from outlying airports to downtown areas, has steadily increased from only 152,000 passengers in 1957 to 461,919 in the first ten months of 1960. But the helicopter lines make no money because their aircraft are small and expensive to maintain. They have to depend on Government subsidy, which for the three lines amounted to $4,765,000 in the fiscal year ending last June 30.

The S-61 seats 25 passengers (v. twelve for the Sikorsky S-58 now in use in Chicago and Los Angeles, and 21 for the old DC-3), has an estimated direct operating cost of 8¢ per seat mile (v. 16¢ per seat mile for the older ships), cruises at 136 m.p.h. To attract more passengers, the S-61 has a plush, airliner-like interior designed by Raymond Loewy Associates. Los Angeles Airways has ordered five ships, at $650,000 apiece, intends to put the first two in service in late summer when Federal Aviation Agency approval is expected to be granted. Chicago Helicopter Airways has ordered four.

Sikorsky barely beat its chief competitor, Boeing Airplane Co.’s Vertol Division, into the field. Vertol has converted its twin-turbine military helicopter into a civilian version called the Vertol 107, will begin turning out production models early next year. The 107 will seat 26-30 passengers, cruise at 150 m.p.h. New York Airways has already ordered ten.