Posted on Jan 22, 2022
The Marine Corps is officially flying its 'most powerful' helicopter ever
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“The CH-53K has three times the lift capability of its predecessor, the CH-53E,” reads a statement from the 2nd Marine Air Wing, the parent unit of HMH-461. “It has a wider cabin and is able to carry 27,000 pounds versus the CH-53E that can carry 9,628 pounds. Its engine produces 57% more horsepower with 63% fewer parts than the CH-53E.”
That means a major improvement to a platform that has been a key component of Marine Corps operations in the field. As Brian Jones wrote for Task & Purpose in 2017:
That means a major improvement to a platform that has been a key component of Marine Corps operations in the field. As Brian Jones wrote for Task & Purpose in 2017:
The Marine Corps is officially flying its 'most powerful' helicopter ever
Posted from taskandpurpose.com
Marines
Helicopters
Flying
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
LtCol Robert Quinter The hover part is fine, it's when the day VFR ones suddenly encounter unexpected IFR that worries me.
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LtCol Robert Quinter
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen - All Marine Corps aviators and aircraft are instrument rated. One concern I've got is when they introduced the 53A to Viet Nam, they weren't allowed to go into an unsecured zone because there was no aircraft capable of recovering them if they went down, including other 53s. I'd hate to see them mission limited.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
LtCol Robert Quinter OK, I'll fly with your Marines. Air Force chopper pilots aren't all IFR qualified I found out the hard way!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Cpl Vic Burk I've Never been on a Flying Washing Machine! I'd be willing to give it a Try. God Knows the Navy and Air Force Put Me on some Weird Fixed Wing Freight Haulers and I never was Real Fond of being "Freight".
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WOW! Now I feel "old". I remember when we went from the "D" to the "E". I was on deployment with the first set of "E" models to go to the Med. SSgt "Hook" Hallstrom was QA for the 53's and he had his hands full as they finished stomping out the bugs.
The Kilo model sure looks like a monster.
The Kilo model sure looks like a monster.
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