Tgoetz Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 I've googled it, but can't seem to find any pictures of how the inside of the medical pod looked that was carried by the CH-54. Anyone seen one? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrittMac Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 (edited) Looked around for a bit. So far, just found this cutaway drawing of how litters would be set up. Scroll down the page a bit. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/55-450-2/Ch1.htm May not be a bad idea to contact Sikorsky here: https://www.sikorskyarchives.com/S-64_Product_History modX.php Edited October 12, 2019 by BrittMac Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helo-Engineer Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 I might know some people that have some contacts. I work at Sikorsky. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jstar Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 (edited) I have found the Army Aviation Museum to be very helpful, : https://www.armyaviationmuseum.org/ Haven't tried here, but the Army Medical Department Museum may be helpful: https://ameddmuseum.amedd.army.mil/index.htm Website of the guys who actually used the surgical pod in Vietnam: https://15thmedbnassociation.org/Photos/15th-Med-Bn-Photos5.aspx There are pictures of the pods, and at least one of the rear end with the door/ramp open. Same open ramp picture, plus one with a surgeon at work here: Information about its use about halfway down here: http://www.15thmedassociation.com/Saber/Saber2004Mar-Apr.html Edited October 14, 2019 by jstar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helo-Engineer Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 This video shows a couple of interior views of the pod. Youtube This site seems to have some info about the interior dimensions of these pods. Pod Loading Can't access this at work, but it may have some good info. 15th Medical I can get some info from a co-worker later today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrittMac Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Ooh, that youtube video was good stuff. It is weird that I saw this post Friday night, looked around the internet for a couple hours for the heck of it, then Saturday a HTS Skycrane came to my local airport for temporary base ops. Great group of guys. One of the pilots flew in 'Nam, and I mentioned the Medical Pod. He said he didn't think he ever saw it deployed, aka super rare. This was an interesting rabbit hole to go down. Learned an awful lot about the S-64 in the last few days. Hopefully the OP will be happy with some info here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tgoetz Posted October 17, 2019 Author Share Posted October 17, 2019 Thanks everyone for the information. I'm a flight nurse/paramedic by trade and have always wanted to build a what if/fictional civil EMS medivac Skycrane. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrittMac Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Thanks everyone for the information. I'm a flight nurse/paramedic by trade and have always wanted to build a what if/fictional civil EMS medivac Skycrane. That is a freaking great idea. I love WHIF's. I was talking to the Sky Crane pilot today, and to further back up what he said the other day, he said they rarely had any pods at all. Almost always were hoisting loads or slinging them. Very interesting helo, as they would have THREE pilots onboard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tgoetz Posted October 18, 2019 Author Share Posted October 18, 2019 I can't believe the pods were used much. Great concept, but functionally and operationally not very useful. But I it would make a cool build for the office, with a row of pods. One for trauma patients, one for cardiac patients and one for pediatrics. Didn't one of the pilots sit facing the rear and could fly the helicopter when picking up sling loads? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael A. Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 The 101st ABN. DIV. (AMBL) used 3-4 of them for a Tactical Operations Center (TOC) at Kae Sahn during Lam Son 719 in early 1971. Bulldozers had cut a big X in the ground so that they were below ground level. Looked like a pretty good set up from my vantage point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrittMac Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 Didn't one of the pilots sit facing the rear and could fly the helicopter when picking up sling loads? Yeah. Interestingly, the Cyclic is removable and is connected electrically, but, the collective is still a physical connection. The operation is automatically reversed for the guy flying from the back. I missed the Skycrane leaving this morning, and I am bummed about it. But, I gleaned a lot of info from them while they were here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helo-Engineer Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 One of the managers I work with worked Skycranes for a long time. He would crew them and run sling load ops all over the US. He said they had a cargo pod that they would throw all their gear in to take to each location. He said he never saw the medical pod. a WHIF would be awesome. Especially a modernized version of a medical aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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