This HOS-1, acquired and restored by the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center (AHMEC), was designated Gander Express following the 1946 rescue of injured passengers from a crashed Sabena Airlines DC-4 airliner in Gander, Newfoundland, by a Coast Guard HNS-1 (R-4) and the HOS-1 (R-6). Is AHMEC's HOS-1 the original Gander Express? We cannot be sure the entire aircraft is. While the log book and paper trail indicate that it is, the aircraft was received in parts and two major pieces (the fuselage and tail boom) did not perfectly align, suggesting those parts are from two aircraft.

This LZ-1A was built initially as a Sikorsky R-6 and TOC with the USAAF as 43-45480. The frame was selected for testing with the new Doman rotor-hub system. The blades are held on the hub similar to a variable-pitch airscrew blades and the rotor incorporates a gimbal mounting to provide the necessary tilting of the rotor disc. The flight tests were started in early 1950 with remarkably good results and so the larger LZ-2A Pelican followed. The LZ-1a is now on display at this super museum.

Delivering a pig to the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show, 'symbolizing the linking of the stock show with the first Southwestern Aviation Exposition'. The pilot was Lt Lord, an instructor at Sheppard Field. Note P-80A Shooting Star 44-85113. Photo from: University of Texas at Arlington

Location is described as a rural road in China. The R-6As were based at Kunming, in Yunnan province, southern China, doing air crew rescues. The photo is likely to be within 100 miles of Kunming. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

General Electric held an airshow at Schenectady County Airport to celebrate the opening of its Air Research Center hangar - see photo 297323. Airframe reported to be 75597 which is credible. Photo courtesy of CW Bayer who wrote the interesting online book Flying Without Instruction about his father, test pilot Al Bayer.

R-6A helicopter transferred to the US Navy. VX-3 was tasked with evaluating helicopters between July 1946 and April 1948, formed at NAS New York and moving to NAS Lakehurst. Photo by: Edgar Deigan

Casualty evacuation trials at Brize Norton. The other aircraft types involved were the Bristol Sycamore, Auster Mk.6, Auster Avis, Chrislea Ace, Miles Gemini, and Scottish Aviation Pioneer. KN844 read from another photo.

'One of the more amusing performances of the RAF Display [at Farnborough in 1950] was that of the Sikorsky R-6 Hoverfly 2s (KN841, KN842, KN846 and KN862) of the AFEE, Beaulieu, which were transformed into 'elephants' with the addition of pink trunks and waggling ears.' Three of them performed each day to the directions of the 'Circus Ringmaster', Flt Sgt J D Hayhow. AFEE was the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment. 27 R-6As went to the RAF and FAA. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

They've found a victim, figuratively speaking, for the XR-6 casualty litter test. The R-6 was a development of the R-4 Hoverfly with a nicely reshaped fuselage, making it look quite presentable among the early helicopters. Photo from: National Archives at Boston

Built by Nash-Kelvinator. Civilianised as N5282N post-war before being reacquired for preservation.

The Sikorsky-designed R-6A two-seat observation helicopter was a refined version of the R-4, the first AF helicopter to serve in a combat zone. First flown in Oct. 1943, the R-6A used the same rotor and transmission system as the R-4 but it had a more powerful Franklin engine. With its fuselage completely redesigned to reduce air resistance and improve pilot visibility the R-6A bore little resemblance to its boxy-looking predecessor. This example is on display at the National Museum of the USAF.

Ex USAAF Hoverfly II 43-45480 converted post-war by Doman Helicopters Inc for rotor blade development tests. The American Export Airlines flying boat in the background is the world's only surviving Sikorsky VS-44A, NC41881 "Excambian" (c/n 4402).