Heavy Metal (of the rotary kind)

[Alpha_Echo_606]

100908-N-8335D-661 EAST CHINA SEA (Sept. 8, 2010) Sailors direct a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter as it lands on the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). Harpers Ferry is on patrol in the western Pacific Ocean, and is part of the permanently forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin/Released)

 

[jmcquate]

A little love from the Nats

 

[HeyJoe]

100917-N-3620B-029 YELLOW SEA (Sept. 17, 2010) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) Airman Adam Pond directs a MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter, assigned to the Vanguard of Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14, to land on the flight deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9). Denver is part of the permanently forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is conducting a scheduled patrol in the western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Blair/Released)

 

[ChuckMK23]

Out of curiosity, what did HM-16 do when they didn't get any of their helos back? They gave up 8, which I assume was a decent fraction of whatever they had assigned. Did they just cross-level from across the whole fleet, buy new ones, or just sit around their ready room and make helicopter noises? I've done a lot of reading about EAGLE CLAW, but can't recall ever hearing this aspect addressed.

4 of the airframes came from HM-12 in NORVA. The aircraft were ordered, without any explanation to HM-16 and were fitted with mission equipment. VRF-31 ferry pilots literally walked into maintenance control, took the ADB's and flew them away.

The CO of HM-12 was so incensed at having to give up the aircraft without explanation that he purposely chose the most unreliable aircraft of his squadron. All this info is documented in the Holloway report and the corresponding Naval Institute Press book.

 

[BigIron]

53 det out of Jax. City of Jacksonville in the background... Photo by BI

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

10/01/2010
SUPPLY FLIGHT
A U.S. Marine Corps Super Stallion helicopter assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit flies in route to deliver relief supplies during humanitarian assistance operations in the southern province of Sindh, Pakistan, Sept. 30, 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

110205-N-9950J-104 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 5, 2011) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Daniel Tesauro directs the landing of a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group on patrol in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

U.S. Sailors signal from the amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9) to an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter while under way in the Gulf of Thailand Feb. 11, 2011. Denver was participating in exercise Cobra Gold 2011, a regularly scheduled joint/combined exercise designed to ensure regional peace and strengthen the ability of the Royal Thai Armed Forces to defend Thailand or respond to regional contingencies. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo C. Aquino , U.S. Navy/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

3/29/2011
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Coast Guardsmen with Maritime Safety Security Team Honolulu, Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group, perform fast-rope operations out of a CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 during vertical insertion training on Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, March 29, 2011. The helicopter pictured is the same type of aircraft as the HMH-363 helicopter that executed an emergency landing in Kaneohe Bay approximately two miles from MCAS, March 29, resulting in the death of one Marine and the injury of three others.By Cpl. Reece E. Lodder

 

[Flying Toaster]

Best watched in full screen HD-

 

[BigIron]

This is pretty cool. A little "HALO-ish" in its presentation, but cool concepts at least.

 

[squorch2]

This video reminds me of the videos from Doom 3.

 

[Gatordev]

"Composite airframe?" How does that work for repair? Can you patch composite ribs and frames?

 

[BigIron]

"Composite airframe?" How does that work for repair? Can you patch composite ribs and frames?

I think SAC is using a "hybrid" composite, so I am thinking rigid ribs/frames/stiffeners with composite skins in places.

 

[Gatordev]

Interesting. It will be interesting to see how the FBW works after a couple of years, too.