What was this Airship/Helicopter hybrid?

Factual Questions
1

I’ve been searching for this all evening, with no luck…

Awhile back, I saw a web page with an odd helicopter/airship hybrid built in the U.S. in the 60s or 70s. Basically, it was four helicopters (I think they might have been H-34s) all bolted to a framework, which itself was hooked to a good-sized rigid airship envelope. The idea being that you could create a super heavy-lift vehicle with the setup.

Apparently, at least one of the things not only was built, but flew. However, it later crashed (I forget why, exactly—mechanical failure, maybe?) and the program was cancelled.

Could anyone refresh my memory as to what this beast was?

2

I think you are thinking of this:
http://www.piasecki.com/pa-97.htm

Brian

3

THAT’S it! Thanks!

4

Rigid airships don’t actually need mechanical failure to crash. I think all they have to do is get into the air.

5

True, but it doesn’t hurt. (Especially when you’ve got four helicopters frankensteined together as part of your airship.)

Well, I mean it does “hurt,” but it, y’know, doesn’t hurt your chances of…hurting. I sleep now.

6

Since the question has been asked and answered, I don’t suppose it will harm if I say that this is what sprang imediately to my mind, not that it helps at all.