Chicago Helicopter Airways Sikorsky
S-55 N874
(c/n 55-1004)
Chicago
Helicopter Airways was begun as Helicopter Air Services at Midway
Airport in 1949,
to provide an air mail
shuttle to the Chicago Post Office. A fleet of Bell 47Ds was
used. The CAB
allowed passenger
services
in 1954 and in 1956 the name was changed to Chicago Helicopter
Services. Meanwhile
the
route had been extended to include the new O'Hare Airport, and several
points within the
Greater
Chicago area. Several Sikorsky S-55s were acquired, one of
which is
seen above at
Midway in 1957. The airline provided
extensive service to and from the two airports
in the early days of
O'Hare, transferring personnel and equipment from Midway.