McDonnell XHCH

The McDonnell XHCH (Model 86) was a 1950s aerial crane helicopter proposal for the United States Navy by the McDonnell Corporation.

The XHCH was developed in the early 1950s to meet a US Navy requirement for a helicopter capable of carrying supplies and ammunition between ships and carrying heavy loads for short distances from ship-to-shore or from marshalling areas ashore to front-line units. Three prototypes (BuNos 138654/138656) were ordered, and a full-size mockup was inspected in May 1953. However, budget cuts forced the Navy to cancel the XHCH-1 project on January 18, 1959, without a prototype being built.^[1]

Data from McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920. Volume II^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Capacity: 30 troops or 24 stretchers
• Length: 37 ft 7 in (11.45 m)
• Height: 16 ft 8 in (5.07 m)
• Empty weight: 14,879 lb (6,749 kg)
• Gross weight: 35,331 lb (16,026 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 42,000 lb (19,051 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Allison T56 gas turbine compressed air generator engines, 3,750 shp (2,800 kW) each
• Powerplant: 3 × McDonnell 12JP20 cold pressure jets, 1,600 lbf (7.1 kN) thrust each
• Main rotor diameter: 65 ft (20 m)
• Main rotor area: 3,320 sq ft (308 m²)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn) at sea level
• Combat range: 23 mi (37 km, 20 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 7,497 ft (2,285 m) hover ceiling out of ground effect
• Rate of climb: 3,100 ft/min (16 m/s)