Cessna Skyhook

Robert Blackburn, New Horizon Book of Flying, Golden Pleasure Books, 1963

In 1952 Cessna acquired Siebel Helicopter Co. and set to getting into the new helicopter business.

 The front engine 4 seat machine was certified in 1956 and things looked promising. The army bought 10 units for testing and the helicopter achieved a number of firsts in the helicopter world including an altitude record of 29,777 feet in 1957. 

Production ended just about the time the above book was being printed with only about 50 built. Probably for liability purposes, Cessna bought back most of them and scrapped them. Today none are flying and only a couple remain in museums.