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CH-53K ground tests

Uncle Fester

Robot Pimp
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Looks like the 53K is having some extra problems - then again, that is to be expected when designing a gearbox to hold 24,000 HP....

http://blog.ctnews.com/financialmines/2015/04/20/report-first-flight-delayed-for-sikorsky-chopper/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=*Situation Report&utm_campaign=SitRep0422

The -53K looks like they crossbred a Big Iron and a Merlin to me. Also, I didn't realize Sikorsky Flight Test wore orange bags too. I thought that was just us Grumman guys. All the other corporate flight test/acceptance crew I've seen (L-M, Boeing, etc) wore desert brown bags.

CH-53K.jpg
 

utswimmer37

"Descent Planning"
pilot

squorch2

he will die without safety brief
pilot
Mishaps on mishaps on poor safety culture, but that's just what I've heard second hand.
 

AttackCanary

Active Member
The -53K looks like they crossbred a Big Iron and a Merlin to me. Also, I didn't realize Sikorsky Flight Test wore orange bags too. I thought that was just us Grumman guys. All the other corporate flight test/acceptance crew I've seen (L-M, Boeing, etc) wore desert brown bags.

CH-53K.jpg

Yeah, several years back they realized that when you crash in the swamp, a khaki flight suit is REALLY hard to find...
 

Uncle Fester

Robot Pimp
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Yeah, several years back they realized that when you crash in the swamp, a khaki flight suit is REALLY hard to find...

Supposedly Grumman adopted orange bags after one of the prototype CODs ditched in LI Sound back in the '60's; crew died of exposure.

Mishaps on mishaps on poor safety culture, but that's just what I've heard second hand.

I meant, are they bringing HM-12 back as an FRS?
 

jmcquate

Well-Known Member
Contributor
So the Marine are going with those big Navy side fuel tanks and ditching the drop tanks?
 

Randy Daytona

Cold War Relic
pilot
Super Moderator
So the Marine are going with those big Navy side fuel tanks and ditching the drop tanks?

The CH-53E had a fuel capacity around 15,500 - the MH-53E was somewhere near 22,000 if I remember correctly. The CH-53K's fuel tanks do not seem as big as those on the MH-53E - if someone has the max fuel, would be curious to know.

Fun fact: The gearbox assembly weighs around 12,500 lb (5,670 kg); by itself heavier than a Blackhawk.

Got this part right: The CH-53K can carry two 463L master pallets, eliminating the need to break apart pallets between airlifter and helicopter.
 

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
The CH-53E had a fuel capacity around 15,500 - the MH-53E was somewhere near 22,000 if I remember correctly. The CH-53K's fuel tanks do not seem as big as those on the MH-53E - if someone has the max fuel, would be curious to know.

Fun fact: The gearbox assembly weighs around 12,500 lb (5,670 kg); by itself heavier than a Blackhawk.
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Colleagues put together a info page on the CH-53K and GE38 engine (aka, T408)
http://geaviation.wpengine.com/ge-a...flight-of-marine-corps-ch-53k/#prclt-jongEf14

It's an impressive machine and isn't like the legacy CH or MH-53E at all. This is a modern heavy lift machine that will deliver operationally on par with the CH-47F - and leverages all the lessons from high altitude operations in Afghanistan and the engineering lessons from the S-92 program.

A truly amazing machine. Sikorsky is becoming the next "Grumman Iron Works" for the Naval Services.
 
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