The CH-54 Tarhe helicopter was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft, a company founded by the renowned Ukrainian aircraft designer Igor Sikorsky. The helicopter's first flight, originally called the S-64, took place on May 9, 1962. It was built on a modular principle, which simplified its maintenance and repair. It featured a high three-column landing gear with a front support, allowing a tractor with a trailer to approach the fuselage unhindered. The helicopter's powerful winches enabled it to pick up cargo in a hover without needing to land. During the Vietnam War, it evacuated damaged aircraft and various helicopters, transported artillery pieces, cars, tanks, and even combat boats using an external sling. It was also used to drop high-performance bombs to clear forests for airstrips. This helicopter set 10 world records in its class, including lifting a 15-ton cargo to an altitude of 3,307 meters. The civilian version of the helicopter, the Erickson S-64 Aircrane, is still successfully in operation today.