The HH-3 was originally developed by Sikorsky as a private venture with the U.S. Air Force taking an interest mid-development. The HH-3 was produced in multiple variants including an Italian variant by the Augusta company and utilized almost exclusi vely for Search-and-Rescue operations by both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard.After nearly thirty years of service it was phased out of American operation in favor of UH-60 variants in the late 1990s but the Augusta-produced helicopters remai n in service with the Italian Air Force and provide both civilian and combat search and rescue support both in Italy and wherever Italian forces are deployed abroad.Displayed here is the HH-3F Coast Guard variant commonly called the Pelican. Extreme care has been paid to ensure that the details of the high-visibility Coast Guard finish are as accurate as possible making this model an excellent choice for any collector or enthusiast