Atlantis Models H-16 Piasecki Helicopter, Swivel Stand, Trading Card

About this part

This 1/96 scale H-16 Piasecki Transporter measures 9.75 inches long. It has movable rotors and an operating cargo door, and comes with a swivel display stand and a collectible trading card. Parts are molded in silver and clear, with decals and instructions included. The H-16 was an early tandem-rotor helicopter developed by Piasecki for transport or rescue work. The U.S. Air Force and Army evaluated the prototypes, but a crash of the second test aircraft in 1956 led to the project being canceled, and it never entered production. It was meant to be the world's largest transport helicopter. The first prototype was shown to the public in September 1953. Originally conceived as a long-range rescue helicopter, its load capacity led the Army and Air Force to study military uses. The H-16 weighed more than twice as much as the largest helicopter in service at the time. It could carry 40 troops, 32 litter patients, or 3 Jeeps. Its fuselage was nearly 78 feet long, its combined rotor span was 134 feet, and it had a faster cruising speed than any other helicopter in service.