RWS 83 – SH2 Sea Sprite with Jim Palmquist

Rotary Wing Show - Interviews from the Helicopter Industry

Ditching a rapidly yawing helicopter into the open ocean is one of those experiences most of us would happily pass on. Jim Palmquist and his crew onboard a SH2 Sea Sprite survived just such an event during his time as an aircraft carrier search and rescue pilot. The Kaman Sea Sprite is a unique helicopter about which Jim goes into more detail.

‘Plane guard’ is the term used for the search and rescue role of embarked helicopters on a flat top aircraft carrier. The helicopter crews are there to be on the scene as soon as possible should one of the carrier aircraft or ship crew end up in the water. The idea is not to end up in the water themselves!

A left front view of a Helicopter Light Anti-submarine Squadron 30 (HSL-30) SH-2F Sea Sprite helicopter preparing to land on the helicopter pad of the destroyer USS NICHOLSON (DD-982).

After what was later found to be a crack tail rotor gearbox mounting plate the SH2 Sea Sprite that Jim was captain of experienced severe in-flight vibration followed by loss of yaw control. The crew and aircraft entered the water shortly after and thankfully all the crew were able to to the surface safely.

One of the unique features of the Sea Sprite was the design of a trailing flap on each of the main rotor blades. The blade was flown up and down by adjusting the angle of the flap rather than adjusting the pitch at the blade root as other helicopters do.

The SH-2 Sea Sprite also had a small part to play in the introduction of dedicated helicopter gunships to the US fleet during Vietnam. Jim also tells this story in the podcast and how the AH-1 Cobra ended up be selected.

Jim went on to fly the OH-6 with the Army National Guard and these days volunteers at the American Helicopter Museum.

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American Helicopter Museum website. The American Helicopter Museum & Education Center’s mission is to Preserve rotary-wing aviation history, Educate society on helicopters and their missions & Inspire future generations.

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