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1963 Sikorsky S-58
- January 6, 2023
Sikorsky S-58 / H-34 Series Helicopters for Sale — The Piston Giant
The Sikorsky S-58 is the last great piston-powered helicopter — a large, powerful, and capable machine that served the US military as the H-34 Choctaw, the US Navy as the HSS-1 Seabat, and commercial operators as the S-58C and S-58T in roles that turbine-powered successors would eventually take over but never entirely replace in the hearts of enthusiasts who appreciate the raw mechanical drama of a Wright R-1820 radial engine driving a large helicopter rotor. The S-58 entered service in 1955 and remained in military use in various countries well into the 1980s, accumulating an operational record that spans anti-submarine warfare, troop transport, SAR, and VIP transport.
The Wright R-1820 Radial Experience
The S-58's standard powerplant — the Wright R-1820 Cyclone nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine producing approximately 1,525 horsepower — is one of the great aircraft piston engines of the 20th century, the same engine family that powered the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Douglas DC-3. Starting a radial-powered S-58 is a sensory experience entirely unlike anything a turbine helicopter can provide: the cough, the pop, the blue smoke, and the building thunder as the cylinders fire in sequence before settling into the rhythmic rumble that gives large radial engines their distinctive identity. For collectors who appreciate the full mechanical drama of vintage aviation, the S-58 delivers it unreservedly.
S-58T Turbine Conversion
Many S-58s were converted to the S-58T configuration by replacing the original radial engine with a coupled Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T Twin Pac — the same twin turboshaft arrangement used in the Bell 212. The S-58T conversion dramatically improved reliability, reduced maintenance complexity, and enhanced performance, creating a medium helicopter with genuine turbine economics in the familiar S-58 airframe. S-58T examples are available in the pre-owned market and serve operators who need the cabin volume of the S-58 with turbine powerplant advantages.
Find Your Sikorsky S-58 on Airplane Trade
Browse Sikorsky S-58, H-34 Choctaw, and S-58T turbine conversion helicopters for sale on Airplane Trade. Radial-powered originals for collectors and restorers, turbine-converted S-58Ts for operators, and military surplus H-34s from verified sellers worldwide. Connect directly with sellers who provide complete airframe histories and powerplant documentation for these remarkable machines.