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The CH-54 Tarhe was designed as a heavy lift helicopter for the US Army. The helicopter was widely used during the Vietnam War for transport and also retrieval of downed aircraft. The ability to transport large, heavy loads quickly proved invaluable during the war. The CH-54 was a great performer and had a great ability to climb. On November 4, 1971, James Church piloted a CH-54 B in level flight at an altitude of 36,122 feet setting a new record for rotorcraft. As of 2019, the record still stands. The design still soldiers on today in civilian use. In 1992 Ericson Air Crane purchased the type certification and manufacturing rights from Sikorsky. The company is the world's largest operator of Aircranes. They are used for wildfire duties and well as heavy lifting projects.

Prints of all artworks are available at www.markkarvon.com. All artworks are copyright Mark Karvon. As a kid in the suburbs of Chicago, I always was interested in the mechanical creations of man. There is something about a purpose of design and the engineering solution to achieve that purpose that always created a spark in my mind. The forms those machines took were captivating to me - the pointed nose of a fighter jet; the exposed driving wheels of a mighty steam engine, the streamlined shape of a submarine. And the stories of the incredible experiences of the men who operated those machines are the stuff of legends and sometimes nightmares. From an early age I tried to express my fascination through drawing. I suppose my first...