Piasecki H-21C „Shawnee“ – the multipurpose helicopter of the USA Air Force Rescue service

In the 1940s the “Piasecky Helicopter” company developed several helicopters with a longitudinal propeller arrangement, the last of which was the H-21, ordered by the US Air Force in 1949. The prototype XH-21 (internal designation Piasecki “Model 44”) first flew on April 11, 1952, the first serial helicopter took off in October 1953. Like previous machines of the company, the H-21 received the nickname "Flying banana" for the characteristic shape of the fuselage. He was in service not only in the Air Force, but also in the Army and the US Coast Guard. A total of 707 helicopters of this type were produced, of which 150 were exported. On August 23-24, 1957 one H-21C performed the first non-stop transcontinental helicopter flight across the United States without landing. The flight from San Diego to Washington lasted 31 hours and 40 minutes with four refueling. Since the summer of 1956 French H-21s have been used in the Algerian War. They were primarily used to transport troops, although there was an unsuccessful attempt to turn the H-21 into an attack helicopter. Typically, French machines were armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun or a 20 mm cannon, mounted in the doors. The H-21s were the first American helicopters, deployed to South Vietnam. In December 1961 two helicopter companies arrived in the country, immediately involved in the transfer of South Vietnamese troops. Combat use showed, that the H-21 had insufficient maneuverability and low survivability. However, at first, helicopters operations were successful, as the North Wietnam Forces guerrillas were not familiar with helicopters and their tactics, and, accordingly, could not adequately counter them. The “black day” for American helicopter pilots was January 2, 1963, when four CH-21s were shot down and made an emergency landing during the battle of Ap-Bak. Gradually (since 1962), the “Shawnee” were replaced by more modern “Hueys” (UH-1), and by the time American ground forces entered South Vietnam, the operation of the CH-21 was almost over.

Model of medium complexity, well designed and maximally detailed, but at the same time - not very complicated. If You do not do internal detailing and transparent glasses, then an advanced beginner modeler, working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, will make this model without much difficulty. But this model should not be one of Your first more complex models. The model reproduces the helicopter of the USA Air Force Rescue service. “Metallic” type aluminum paint is used, where necessary, 4 sheets of detail printed on glossy chalk paper for greater realism.