Meet Cessna CH-1 Skyhook
The CH-1 brought Cessna's familiar light-aircraft styling into a helicopter programme. It used a front-mounted piston engine and a two-blade main rotor; the Army's CH-1C designation was YH-41 Seneca. Although the design achieved altitude milestones, it did not become a commercial or military success comparable with Cessna's fixed-wing range.
History & design
Development milestones
Designer: Richard Ten Eyck
First flight: July 1953
Developed from: Seibel S-4
Wikipedia contributors · Cessna CH-1 Skyhook ↗Cessna CH-1 Skyhook · family/variant named by the source · Wikipedia revision 1309484752
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
Cessna CH-1 Skyhook
CowanSim
Aircraft · Released
| Product | Simulator | Product type |
|---|---|---|
| CH-1 for MSFS ↗Released | MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024 The developer describes an MSFS 2020 product compatible with MSFS 2024; a separately tailored native 2024 edition remains a future update. | Aircraft |
Aircraft specifications
Published figures for the named real-aircraft variant. Simulator equipment and performance can differ.
| Specification | Published value |
|---|---|
| Length | 29 ft 5 in (8.97 m) (fuselage length), 42 ft 6 in (12.95 m) (overall length) |
| Height | 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) |
| Empty weight | 2,080 lb (943 kg) |
| Gross weight | 3,100 lb (1,406 kg) |
| Powerplant | 1 × Continental FSO-526-A air-cooled six-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine, 270 hp (200 kW) |
| Main rotor diameter | 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) |
| Main rotor area | 962 sq ft (89.4 m² ) |
| Maximum speed | 108 mph (174 km/h, 94 kn) at sea level |
| Range | 260 mi (420 km, 230 nmi) |
| Rate of climb | 1,030 ft/min (5.2 m/s) at 8,000 ft (2,400 m) |
In pictures
Photographs show the variants, related designs and historical examples identified in their captions.

Manuals & resources
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Aircraft background
Cessna CH-1 SkyhookWikipedia contributors · Research background · retrieved 2026-09-12Product
CH-1 for MSFSCowanSim · Official developer / designated store catalogue · checked 2026-09-12Discuss this aircraft
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