The Little World

The Piasecki H25 Army Mule helicopter was not a very big lifter – even for a twin-rotor aircraft. None of the helicopters of the 50’s period were – they were limited by what their aero engines could do. The H 25 has a twin-row radial engine buried in the fuselage, but it is a small twin. The best the H25 can do is a pilot, a passenger in front, and either 4 troops or a rescue man in the back.

Rescue? The aircraft was adopted by the US Navy as a plane guard helicopter aboard aircraft carriers. It saw service in the Korean War. It was also available after that for sale or gift to foreign navies. And who more foreign than Canada, eh?

I’ve no idea which ship this is flying from, but I can guarantee you one thing – they ain’t sailing off Bermuda.

So the horror of that Army Mule graphic can be laid permanently to rest. The internet images section shows that the RCN has preserved at least three of the things in their museums – and as they have been restored well, I am going to deem the Piasecki to be an HUP instead of an H-25 and start drafting some Royal Canadian Navy roundels and unit signs. Note that the side roundel is set level with the deck line when the aircraft is landed – not when it is flying. Intentional? Or a paint crew that were standing on the deck and forgot themselves? One wonders.