The "Otis Falcon" most likely in France

Courtesy of Sid Nanson

The "Otis Falcon" at Suffolk County AFB in 1963

Courtesy of Jim Burns

CH-3B Trans Atlantic Flight

The US Air Force found it needed a helicopter with enough range and payload capacity to be able to fly out and resupply the Texas Tower radar sites located out in the Atlantic Ocean off of the New England Coast, as well as be able to recover drones.

Three CH-3Bs were purchased by the Air Force specifically designed for the Air Force mission at Otis AFB.  Serial numbers 62-12574, 62-12576, and 62-12576 were flown directly from the factory to Otis AFB MA.

Not long after acceptance by the Air Force CH-3B (62-12574) dubbed the “Otis Falcon“ flew from Otis AFB Massachusetts to Paris France.  Total flight time was 35.5 hours and included stops in Labrador, Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland before landing in Paris.

Due to weight limitations the crew consisted of three pilots.  The three could rotate and relieve one of the pilots.  An additional internal fuel tanks was installed for the flight.

Fellow "Rotorhead" Ernie Cyrus was the FE that accompanied the Alantic crossing.  He flew aboard the chase aircraft for the over water portion of the trip.  While in Europe Ernie flew with the aircraft to the different places that was visited.

The “Otis Falcon” upon completing its European visit was returned to the US via ship.

Read more about CH-3B's at this cut and paste link; http://www.helis.com/database/model/802/

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