Piasecki Helicopter
An American helicopter manufacturer that pioneered tandem-rotor military and utility aircraft before becoming Vertol and later part of Boeing.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Piasecki Helicopter was an American aircraft-design and manufacturing company active primarily from the 1940s through the 1950s. It emerged from P-V Engineering Forum, a partnership founded in 1940 by aeronautics students Frank Piasecki and Harold Venzie with F. J. Kosloski, Donald N. Meyers, Elliott Daland, and Walter Swartz. The enterprise initially pursued unconventional rotorcraft concepts, including the PV-1, which attempted to address main-rotor torque through a rotorless tail arrangement and pressurized air. Its more conventional PV-2 became one of the earliest helicopters to fly successfully in the United States and established Piasecki as an important American rotorcraft designer. The company's most influential technical contribution was the development of tandem-rotor helicopters. After the PV-2 demonstration, Piasecki secured United States Navy support for a larger follow-on aircraft. The resulting PV-3, first flown in 1945 as the XHRP-X, was the first successful tandem-rotor helicopter. Its production derivative, the HRP-1, entered service in 1947 and became widely associated with the nickname "Flying Banana," reflecting the upward-curved rear fuselage used to provide clearance between the two rotors. Tandem rotors allowed the aircraft to carry substantial loads without a tail rotor and offered useful lifting capacity and ride characteristics for military transport and utility missions. P-V Engineering lacked the capital required for sustained production, so it was reorganized as Piasecki Helicopter Corporation in 1946. Laurance Rockefeller and A. Felix du Pont Jr. acquired a controlling interest, providing capital for production development. The company expanded its tandem-rotor portfolio with the HRP-2, an all-metal derivative, and the HUP-1, a compact utility helicopter also produced in Army service as the H-25. The HUP's overlapping rotor arrangement made it compact enough for aircraft-carrier elevator operations. By 1954, 339 HUP aircraft had been delivered to the military services of the United States, Canada, and France. The company also developed the H-21 Workhorse, an improved tandem-rotor aircraft with a more powerful radial engine. In parallel, it pursued the larger H-16 transport helicopter, designated PV-15 during development. The H-16 prototype flew in 1953, but a fatal crash in January 1956 resulted in cancellation of the program. The accident and wider disagreements over product strategy contributed to a breakdown between Frank Piasecki and the company's controlling owners and board. In 1956, Frank Piasecki established a separate Piasecki Aircraft Corporation to continue work on compound helicopters and other rotorcraft concepts. Piasecki Helicopter's board responded by changing the corporate name to Vertol Aircraft Corporation and modifying its bylaws to prevent Piasecki's return as a director. The rebranded company continued developing tandem-rotor aircraft, including the Vertol Model 107, before financial pressure led to its acquisition by Boeing in 1960. The business subsequently became Boeing Vertol and, later, the Boeing Helicopter Division. Piasecki Helicopter therefore survives primarily as a historical predecessor to Boeing's tandem-rotor helicopter activities rather than as an independent operating brand.
History
Piasecki Helicopter originated in Philadelphia in 1940 as the P-V Engineering Forum, a name formed from Piasecki and Venzie. The founders were aeronautics students Frank Piasecki and Harold Venzie, joined by F. J. Kosloski, Donald N. Meyers, Elliott Daland, and Walter Swartz. The group's first known project, the PV-1, explored a rotorless-tail approach in which a tapering tail cone and pressurized air were intended to counteract main-rotor torque. Harold Venzie left the organization in 1943, but the company continued under Piasecki's technical leadership. The PV-2 represented a move toward a more conventional helicopter configuration. Frank Piasecki designed and flew it in April 1943, making it one of the earliest helicopters to fly successfully in the United States. The aircraft was initially tethered for safety, although the restraint failed during testing. Later that year Piasecki transported the helicopter by road to Washington, D.C., where he demonstrated it to government officials. The episode also led to the issuance of his helicopter pilot's license by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. The PV-2 demonstration helped Piasecki obtain United States Navy funding for a larger aircraft. A contract signed in January 1944 supported the PV-3, which first flew in March 1945 as the XHRP-X. The aircraft was the first successful tandem-rotor helicopter, using front and rear rotors rather than a tail rotor. This configuration offered high lifting capability and avoided the power loss associated with a conventional anti-torque tail rotor. The production aircraft, the HRP-1, entered service in 1947. Its curved fuselage became the basis of the enduring Flying Banana nickname. Because the original partnership did not have enough capital to finance production, it was reorganized in 1946 as Piasecki Helicopter Corporation. Laurance Rockefeller and A. Felix du Pont Jr. took a controlling interest, supplying capital for expansion. The company developed the HRP-2, an all-metal derivative with side-by-side crew seating, although limited engine power restricted production to five aircraft for the Coast Guard. Piasecki then introduced the H-21 Workhorse, a more capable tandem-rotor aircraft powered by a Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engine. The company also developed a smaller tandem-rotor utility aircraft at Navy request. Known during development as the PV-14 and designated XHJP-1, it entered production as the HUP-1 for the Navy and the H-25 for the Army. Its overlapping rotors allowed a compact footprint suitable for aircraft carriers. By 1954, 339 aircraft had been delivered to the United States, Canada, and France. These programs established Piasecki as a significant supplier of military and naval utility helicopters. Piasecki's later years were marked by management conflict and program risk. Don R. Berlin became president and a director in 1953 while Frank Piasecki served as chairman. The company pursued the large PV-15, designated H-16, whose prototype first flew in 1953. A fatal crash in January 1956 led to cancellation. At the same time, the controlling owners and board became dissatisfied with Frank Piasecki's leadership and were not supportive of his plans for compound helicopters and related rotorcraft. Frank Piasecki responded by forming Piasecki Aircraft Corporation, a separate company intended to continue those projects. The original company's board subsequently changed its name to Vertol Aircraft Corporation and amended its bylaws to prevent Piasecki from being re-elected as a director because he was operating a competing business. He was forced out in May 1956. Vertol continued the tandem-rotor tradition with the Model 107 and other aircraft, but financial pressure eventually resulted in Boeing's acquisition of Vertol on March 30, 1960. The business became Boeing Vertol and later the Boeing Helicopter Division. Piasecki Helicopter is therefore a defunct corporate predecessor whose engineering lineage continued through Vertol and Boeing.
- 1960
Vertol acquired by Boeing
[1]Boeing acquired Vertol, extending the company's corporate lineage into Boeing's helicopter business.
- 1956
Piasecki Helicopter becomes Vertol
[1]The company was renamed Vertol Aircraft Corporation after Frank Piasecki was forced out amid strategic and governance disputes.
- 1953
H-16 prototype flies
[1]The large PV-15/H-16 transport prototype made its first flight.
- 1949
HUP-1 enters service
[1]The HUP-1 and Army H-25 utility variants began deliveries to United States military services.
- 1947
HRP-1 production begins
[1]The PV-3 entered production as the HRP-1 military transport helicopter.
- 1946
Corporate reorganization
[1]P-V Engineering was reorganized as Piasecki Helicopter Corporation after outside investors provided production capital.
- 1945
PV-3 first flight
[1]The PV-3 flew as the XHRP-X and became the first successful tandem-rotor helicopter.
- 1944
Navy tandem-rotor contract
[1]A Navy contract launched development of the PV-3 tandem-rotor helicopter.
- 1943
PV-2 flies
[1]Frank Piasecki flew the PV-2, one of the earliest successful helicopters developed in the United States.
- 1940
P-V Engineering Forum founded
[1]Frank Piasecki, Harold Venzie, and four other aeronautics students established the organization that preceded Piasecki Helicopter.
Products and positioning
Innovative military and utility rotorcraft, especially tandem-rotor helicopters designed for transport, lift capacity, compact shipboard operation, and smoother flight characteristics.
Experimental helicopter · 1940
PV-1
The PV-1 was the first design associated with P-V Engineering Forum. It explored a rotorless-tail concept using a tapered rear fuselage and pressurized air to reduce the effects of main-rotor torque. Although it did not become a production aircraft, the project demonstrated the founders' willingness to investigate unconventional solutions to helicopter control and propulsion problems.
Experimental helicopter · 1943
PV-2
The PV-2 was a more conventional single-main-rotor helicopter designed and flown by Frank Piasecki. Its successful flight in 1943 made it one of the earliest helicopters to fly in the United States and helped the company secure government interest and Navy funding for larger rotorcraft development.
Military transport helicopter · 1947
PV-3 / HRP-1
The PV-3, flown as the XHRP-X, was the company's breakthrough tandem-rotor design and the first successful aircraft of its configuration. Its production version, the HRP-1, used front and rear rotors to provide substantial lifting capability without a tail rotor. The aircraft's curved fuselage led to the widely used Flying Banana nickname.
Coast Guard utility helicopter · 1949
HRP-2
The HRP-2 was an evolutionary successor to the HRP-1. It adopted an all-metal skin and changed the crew arrangement to side-by-side seating. Engine power limited its performance and only five aircraft were built, all for the United States Coast Guard.
Military transport helicopter · 1949
H-21 Workhorse
The H-21 Workhorse was an improved tandem-rotor helicopter derived from the earlier Piasecki designs. It used a more powerful Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engine and was supplied to the United States Air Force. The type reinforced Piasecki's reputation for high-lift military transport helicopters capable of operating with a smoother ride than many competing single-rotor aircraft.
Naval and Army utility helicopter · 1949
HUP-1 / H-25
Developed from the PV-14 and designated XHJP-1 during development, the HUP-1 was a compact tandem-rotor utility helicopter produced for the United States Navy. The Army operated a related version as the H-25. Overlapping rotor blades reduced the aircraft's footprint, allowing it to use aircraft-carrier elevators. A total of 339 examples were delivered to United States, Canadian, and French military customers by 1954.
Heavy transport helicopter · 1953
PV-15 / H-16
The PV-15 was Piasecki's large tandem-rotor transport project and was designated H-16 for military development. Its prototype first flew in 1953, but the program was cancelled after a fatal crash in January 1956. The aircraft did not enter production.
Brand decisions
1960
Acquisition by BoeingM&ABackground
After its transformation into Vertol, the company experienced financial pressure while developing new rotorcraft programs.
Action taken
Boeing acquired Vertol Aircraft Corporation on March 30, 1960.
Aftermath
The business became Boeing Vertol and later the Boeing Helicopter Division, ending Piasecki Helicopter's existence as an independent corporate identity.
1956
Cancellation of the H-16 programOtherBackground
The PV-15/H-16 was a large transport project whose prototype had flown in 1953.
Action taken
Following a fatal prototype crash in January 1956, the H-16 project was cancelled.
Aftermath
The cancellation removed one of Piasecki's most ambitious heavy-lift programs and contributed to the company's strategic difficulties.
1956
Corporate renaming and separation from Frank PiaseckiStrategyBackground
The controlling owners and board had lost confidence in Frank Piasecki's leadership and disagreed with his interest in compound helicopters and other rotorcraft concepts.
Action taken
After Piasecki established a competing Piasecki Aircraft Corporation, the board renamed the original company Vertol Aircraft Corporation and amended its bylaws to prevent his re-election as a director.
Aftermath
Frank Piasecki left the company in May 1956. Vertol continued the tandem-rotor business and was acquired by Boeing in 1960.
1946
Reorganization into Piasecki Helicopter CorporationStrategyBackground
P-V Engineering Forum lacked the capital needed to finance production of its developing helicopter designs.
Action taken
The business was reorganized as Piasecki Helicopter Corporation after Laurance Rockefeller and A. Felix du Pont Jr. acquired a controlling interest and provided additional capital.
Aftermath
The reorganization enabled production of tandem-rotor aircraft including the HRP-1 and later military utility helicopters.
Recent events
- 1960
Boeing acquires Vertol[1]
M&A
Boeing acquired Vertol Aircraft Corporation, making the former Piasecki business part of Boeing's helicopter operations.
- 1956
H-16 project is cancelled after fatal prototype crash[1]
Other
The large H-16 transport program was terminated after its prototype crashed fatally in January, ending one of the company's major heavy-lift projects.
- 1956
Company is renamed Vertol and Frank Piasecki departs[1]
Leadership change
Following disputes over leadership and future rotorcraft strategy, the board renamed Piasecki Helicopter Vertol Aircraft Corporation and barred Frank Piasecki from returning as a director.
- 1949
HUP-1 and H-25 deliveries begin[1]
Product launch
Piasecki began delivering its compact tandem-rotor utility helicopter to the United States Navy and Army, with later deliveries to Canada and France.
- 1947
HRP-1 enters production[1]
Product launch
The PV-3 entered production as the HRP-1, a military tandem-rotor transport commonly known as the Flying Banana.
- 1946
Piasecki Helicopter Corporation is formed[1]
M&A · Other
P-V Engineering was reorganized as Piasecki Helicopter Corporation with new investment supporting production and commercial development.
- 1944
Piasecki secures Navy support for tandem-rotor development[1]
Product launch
A United States Navy contract initiated development of the PV-3, the aircraft that became the company's first successful tandem-rotor design.
- 1943
PV-2 makes an early United States helicopter flight[1]
Product launch
Frank Piasecki flew the PV-2, an early American helicopter design that helped establish the company's technical credentials.
- 1940
P-V Engineering Forum is founded[1]
Other
Frank Piasecki, Harold Venzie, and several fellow aeronautics students established the organization that later became Piasecki Helicopter.
Sources1 sources
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