Amphibious helicopter

An amphibious helicopter can be designed with a waterproof or water-resistant hull like a flying boat or it can be fitted with utility floats in the same manner as a floatplane.

[2] Helicopters can fly in rougher weather than fixed-wing aircraft, have the advantage of VTOL, and can deliver injured passengers directly to hospitals or other emergency facilities (requiring no runway or airport).

[9] Utilizing many components of the earlier S-55, the S-62 proved the idea, and Sikorsky flew their S-61 Sea King prototype in 1959 for the U.S. Navy, a model intended for anti-submarine warfare.

The 1958 Vertol HUP-2 was an amphibious development of the twin-rotor Piasecki H-25 which strengthened its hull and replaced lower nose windows with tough aluminum.

The helicopter began service with the United States Marine Corps in 1962,[16] and with the Canadian military in 1963, and is used to carry cargo and combat troops.

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook was made sufficiently watertight to allow it to land on water for a short time in carrying out covert operations and special military missions.

Amphibious helicopters have been used in a variety of roles, including air-sea rescue, anti-submarine warfare, supporting special forces operations, and transporting the US president.