Piasecki H-21B Shawnee 'Flying Banana' taxi

The Classic Rotors Rotorcraft Museum Piasecki H-21B Shawnee 'Flying Banana' taxis after an air show.

It does not sound like a 'typical helicopter' because it is powered by a 9 cylinder radial piston engine, not a turbine engine as most helicopters today. In 1957, when the H-21 was built, turbine engines were just beginning to be used in helicopters. The first turbine engine helicopter, the Kaman K-225, flew in 1951. A turbine powered tandem rotor helicopter did not fly until later.

Classic Rotors Rotorcraft Museum
Ramona, CA
www.tryno.com/classicrotors

Category:

Education

Tags:

• aviation
• rotorcraft
• helicopter
• vietnam
• war
• military
• aerospace
• airshow
• museum
• flying

[kirkconway]

I used to see thiis thing all the time

im from out there and id see it at gilllespie or ramona airport.

[callofdutyguy9]

the US makes the best helicopters and planes, and every thing!

[vawlkee51]

This chopper was stationed at Ramona Airport in southeast California.

[HoraceRider]

Mine always brought me home alive. Of course the number of maintenance man hours versus flying hours was like pouring labor down a black hole.

[Ralroost]

These flying bananas scare me- from what I heard they're sort of a flying death trap?