The Gyrodyne Helicopter
Historical Foundation is very proud to have helped provide
assistance to the following museums in attaining flight manuals (so their
aircraft can be maintained or restored), photographic and video archive
packages, aircraft parts for their current displays and some even got completed
airframes!
We have assisted in this effort in order to accomplish
the following goals:
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Expand the knowledge base of the only American co-axial helicopter
design to ever go into full production, that being the QH-50 series
helicopter,
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To increase the awareness of the history associated with the company and
employees that built the QH-50; that being the Gyrodyne Company of America,
St. James, Long Island, New York,
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To honor the United States Navy and its' past leaders for having the
foresight in 1958, to initiate a major weapons program using an unmanned
aircraft (the first time for any branch of service), called
DASH, which led to the modification (called
FRAM) of over 240 Naval destroyers, destroyer escorts and tenders which
placed two QH-50 aircraft per ship and introduced for the first time, the
helicopter to the destroyer. This effort was also a very first step in
modern unmanned vertical takeoff and landing aviation.
When you visit one of the following museums, please keep
in mind all the above history and support these museums and the educational and
historical legacy they are attempting to maintain. It isn't an inexpensive
effort!
The following list is organized from east of the United
States to the west coast, in no real order. There are no out-of-country QH-50's that are available
for viewing.
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In the North Eastern United States
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Patuxent River Naval Aviation Museum
at Pegg Road and Route 235,
Lexington Park, Maryland - Adjacent to GATE 1 at the Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, MD
Phone: (301) 863-7418
for Directions, click here
The Patuxent River Naval Aviation Museum is
home to the pristine QH-50D model, DS-1679, which is the only D model on
the east coast. The museum has great exhibits on the testing of systems
and engines that has created our great Navy of today. The museum is open
10 am to 5 pm Tuesday-Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays and closed on
Mondays. |
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The American Helicopter Museum is home to
QH-50C, DS-1190 (seen right). Located in West
Chester, Pennsylvania, the Museum houses nearly fifty helicopters and
exhibits that span the history of rotary wing flight. Click on their name
above and it will take you to their site. |
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Bradley International Airport -
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Phone (860) 623-3305 FAX (860) 627-2820
E-mail: staff@neam.org
The New England Air Museum
is home to QH-50C, DS-1320 (seen left). One
of the "higher" number QH-50C's, it is an excellent example of
the 1300 series of the QH-50C and is the only one to actually have a
torpedo hanging from its shackles which it did in its Anti-submarine
warfare days. At current, DS-1320 is having it tail assembly restored. The
story of DS-1320 is rather interesting as it originated from Naval Air
Rework Facility at Norfolk, VA in August of 1973 and has been on display
for 28 years. Click on their name above and you will go to their site. |
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The USS Joseph P. Kennedy
Jr. is an example of a Gearing class destroyer, which were built during WW
II and became the workhorses of the Cold War destroyer navy.
KENNEDY served with great distinction during the Korean War, the Cuban
Missile Crisis, and America's space program. DD-850 now proudly displays
her colors as a museum ship to educate the public and serve as a memorial
to those who sailed aboard destroyers and is also a National Historic
Landmark and member of the Historic Naval Ships Association. If
you click on the picture of the Kennedy at right, you will go to their
site!
On July 16, 2001, crew from the USS
Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. museum were one of three museums that participated
in an asset transfer conducted by the U.S. Army's PEO-STRI Target
Management Office (TMO) at White Sands Missile Range, NM which Gyrodyne
Helicopter Historical Fndn was pleased to participate in. The TMO is the
only current user of the QH-50.
At right middle is the DASH hangar undergoing
restoration. For that Hangar, KENNEDY received, QH-50C, DS-1284
which is seen at the lower right. Final restoration is set to be completed
for the aircraft by Fall of 2007, but DS-1284 did get her twin MK-44
Torpedoes installed by Gyrodyne Volunteers on 14-Aug-2006, making that
QH-50, the only Armed Qh-50 on ship, in the world!
DS-1284 resides in the Hangar space that the 1960's FRAM
program installed on KENNEDY. The USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. museum
also attained much the of components to the ship-based AN/SRW-4C Target
Control system (many in new condition) which will also be exhibited as part of the DASH system.
When the crew of the Kennedy are finished with this restoration of the
DASH equipment onboard the destroyer, the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
museum will be the only place in the world to show how ALL the DASH
equipment worked together in a restored DASH hangar, to give the 1960's
Navy destroyer a 22 mile
stand-off capability in ASW and RECON capability.
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In the South Eastern United States
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40 Patriots Point Road
Mount Pleasant South Carolina 29464-4377
While Patriots Point may be known for being the home of the
aircraft carrier USS
YORKTOWN (CV-10), (the Fighting Lady), right next to YORKTOWN
is the Sumner class destroyer, USS
LAFFEY (DD-724) and onboard her is QH-50C, DS-1347
(seen right). While
her tail states "DS-1343" in actuality, it is DS-1347,
manufactured on October 20,1965. While LAFFEY is a FRAM destroyer with
hangar deck, the hangar is currently being used as a Destroyer museum.
With DS-1347 sitting outside in the ocean-elements, she is deteriorating
and needs help. Gyrodyne Historical did assist the USS ORLECK museum in
attaining rotor blades for DS-1347 and it is hoped that this is the
beginning of a restoration project, for DS-1347 and the USS LAFFEY as
well. |
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 Carolinas
Aviation Museum
4108 Minuteman Way
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte, North Carolina 28208
(704) 359-8442
The Carolinas Aviation Museum is home to
QH-50C, DS-1355 (seen before and after at left). This aircraft is
still undergoing
restoration which Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation is assisting with. In cooperation with the USS
RADFORD museum, a tail and rotor blades were acquired for their use in
2001. Then, in 2002, two separate trips to White Sands Missile Range
(WSMR) were conducted to attain parts for DS-1355. From the flotation gear
to most of the ASW-20 automatic flight control systems, these items were
acquired and shipped to the Carolina Aviation Museum. In 2003, Puliz
Moving and Storage of Reno, NV cut all the vinyl graphics for the tail of
this aircraft. As you can see their restoration team has done a fabulous
job!. Some history on DS-1355 is that it was manufactured on November 1, 1965, originally operated on the USS
Massey (DD-778), a Allen M. Sumner class destroyer and is the only QH-50C
with original ship's name/art work on its tank. |
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In the Mid-Western United States
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USS Radford National Naval Museum
is located at 228 W. Canal St. in Newcomerstown, OH.
It contains artifacts, keepsakes, large uniform
collections, photos and related wartime items.
Opening of first segment large lobby display will take place Memorial Day,
2000. Tele: (740)498-4446
On July 16, 2001,
crew from the USS RADFORD museum (Barbara
and Vane Scott) was the second of three museums that
participated in an asset transfer conducted by the U.S. Army PEO-STRI
Target Management Office (TMO) at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM
which Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation was pleased to participate in.
The TMO is the only current user of the QH-50 drone. While the
QH-50C aircraft that RADFORD received (seen right being loaded at
WSMR) lacked an I.d. plate and the tails were for another aircraft,
RADFORD has decided to restore the aircraft to be the one seen on the FRAM
page of this web site, that being DS-1199 which was built on October
1, 1964.
Also, RADFORD got a new deck control, control monitor with stand
as well as the transmitter control- all of the components a deck station
would have. RADFORD has begun to display their QH-50 helicopter as
seen below, outside their museum. Currently, it is hoped that RADFORD as
well as all participating museums can attain Mk-44 Demilitarized Torpedoes
for their QH-50 displays.
Above,
QH-50C, DS-1199, greets visitors to the USS RADFORD Museum
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The destroyer ORLECK is currently closed due to severe damage incurred
by Hurricane Rita in 2005.
The Foundation is hopeful that the ORLECK can be saved. Please
contact us if you wish to help repair this valiant ship! We'll put you in
touch with the ORLECK people working on this effort.
Now docked in the
Sabine River near downtown Orange, Texas, the former U.S. naval destroyer USS ORLECK is the
representative of so much:
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The ship building heritage of the city of
Orange itself, where over 400 vessels were built for the war effort of
World War II alone;
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The heritage of the company that built much of that
shipping, that being the Consolidated Steel Corporation and of course,
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The
ORLECK itself, (built by Consolidated Steel in Orange!) and its
tremendous Naval History of earning four battle stars for
service during the Korean Conflict, being a member of the famous Train
Busters Club of Korea and being known as "Top Gun" of the
Seventh Fleet in Vietnam.
The ORLECK is an
example of a GEARING class destroyer which did receive the FRAM-1
modification which put DASH on board. Former ORLECK Executive officer Phil
King actually came up with the SNOOPY program (camera on a QH-50 vs.
torpedoes) to gather intelligence over Vietnam. Records indicate that over
30 ships used SNOOPY- the first time a unmanned helicopter was used for
combat surveillance; the first and only time.
The USS
ORLECK museum was the third of 3 museums to participate in an asset
transfer conducted by the U.S. Army PEO-STRI's Target Management Office
(TMO) at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM which Gyrodyne Helicopter
Historical Fdn was pleased to participate in. Currently, research is being conducted
as to the identity of the ORLECK's QH-50C. Barely visible on the tank was
the title "USS" but no ship name. At lower left, at WSMR picking
up their QH-50C, from left to right: Glenda Dyer, ORLECK's curator; Tom Depwe, president of the Southeast Texas
War Memorial and Heritage Foundation; Alex Papadakos, Gyrodyne Helicopter
Historical Foundation and Penn Johnson, technical advisor and
co-owner of Penn Engineering.
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 Pima
Air & Space Museum
6000 East Valencia Road
Tucson, AZ 85706
Phone (520) 574-0462
"Creating unlimited horizons in aerospace
education through the preservation and presentation of the history of
flight."
The Pima Air &
Space Museum opened to the public in May 1976 with 75 aircraft on display.
Since then the museum collection has grown to over 250 aircraft occupying
80 acres of land. The entire museum property covers about 150 acres.
Pima is also the home of
QH-50C, DS-1045, the earliest known example of QH-50 to exist. Although it
hangs out-of-reach from the ceiling of the main building at Pima,
DS-1045's condition, completeness and authenticity is excellent, as is
most of the collection at Pima. Thanks to Dave Hood/USS McKean
DD-784 for the fine photograph. |
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On the West Coast of the United States
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 The Hawthorne
Ordnance Museum
Highway 95 in Downtown Hawthorne, Nevada
The
Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation placed its own
QH-50D, DS-1914,
on loan to the Hawthorne Ordnance Museum, on November 24, 2003. The
Hawthorne Ordnance Museum is run by members and volunteers of the
Ordnance Museum as part of a revitalization program to bring to the
public the rich history of the Hawthorne Army Ordnance Depot .
Access to
DS-1914 is excellent as the aircraft is in a glass-show room
with normal business hours at the Hawthorne Museum.
As for DS-1914: From
its very beginning, DS-1914 was built as a
tribute to the late founder of Gyrodyne, Mr.
Peter James Papadakos, taking the year of his birth as the serial
number for the helicopter. DS-1914
represents more than a static display as the aircraft is not only fully
functional, but is complemented with all the
 components
to test its systems including a deck control with control monitor,
CIC and transmitter controller as well as a ASM-103 system test set.
Also located next to DS-1914 is a
complete SRM test system designed to calibrate the URW-14A radio
transmitters used on-ship to send the command signals to the QH-50D.
As seen at left upon
its delivery to Hawthorne, the folks around the QH-50D, DS-1914, from left
to right, Herman Millsap (board member of the Museum), Peter and Alex Papadakos
of the Gyrodyne Foundation, Larry Mortensen and Fred Inman both board
members as well.
Some short
information on the Hawthorne Army Depot (HWAD)- It is the largest industrial
activity in the State of Nevada and the largest Depot in the world.
Established in 1927, the Depot drove the town of Hawthorne's population
and by 1930 it stood at 680 people. By 1945, the population had reached
5,625 with the base encompassing some 147,000 acres having 178 buildings
and 2,427 above and below ground bunkers for ammunition storage. By 1980,
the Depot was converted to a "contractor-operated" facility with a total
employment of around 500.
Today, an example of the
ordnance stored at Hawthorne can be seen at the Hawthorne Ordnance Museum
on display from huge 1000 lb bombs to small rockets and missiles as seen below.
Please visit this historic place and give some
thought to all the logistics required in keeping our nation free!
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The Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation Mission:
"To foster better understanding and expand the
knowledge base of the DASH Weapon System and principally the Gyrodyne
Helicopter Company's participation in that program as well as the other
mission derivatives of Gyrodyne's QH-50 helicopter and of Gyrodyne's
history overall ."
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Finally, The
Foundation would like to publicly THANK all the personnel involved in the
"Asset Recovery" of the Gyrodyne manufactured equipment, archives
and weapon systems (like the two special gentlemen at right)
for the Museums we support, as shown on this page. Without their
assistance, none of these exhibits would be as complete as they are or in
most cases, even possible. They are individuals in the:
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U.S. Army's Systems, Training
and Instrument Command - Target Management Office (US ARMY PEO-STRI
TMO) |
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Former Gyrodyne Helicopter Company employees |
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U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center-Keyport |
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U.S. Naval Inactive Ships Program
Office |
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Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot -
Command Staff |
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Day-Zimmerman Hawthorne Contractor
Staff |
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U.S. Maritime Administration-
Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet |
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Puliz Moving and Storage, Reno,
Nevada |
While security
concerns prevent us from naming these dedicated persons, they have acted
to insure the preservation of this Nation's historical artifacts and
aircraft are preserved for future generations to appreciate and
admire. |
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To all of you, many thanks for your
past and continued support of these QH-50 Museums!
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Loose ends
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Currently, QH-50C, DS-1289, located at the Naval Undersea Museum,
Keyport, Washington is Off-Display...but here she is in the back room!
Thanks to Dave Hood and Arnie Hoffman for the photo!
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NOTE: The QH-50C at Seattle's Museum of Flight, owned by
the Museum of Naval Aviation, was transferred to The American Helicopter
Museum; that being DS-1190 |
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NOTE: QH-50C, DS-1261, Last seen at Warner-Robbins Air
Force Museum is presently, "Missing" and is being moved, we
believe to Pensacola for the Museum of Naval Aviation. |
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