![]() ![]() The YCH-53E on its first flight, 1 March 1974 note that the horizontal stabilizer differs from the production version The Marines liked the idea, since it promised to deliver a good solution quickly, and funded the development of a testbed helicopter for evaluation. Sikorsky proposed the S-80 design to the Marines in 1968. Before the issue of the requirement, Sikorsky had been working on an enhancement to the CH-53D, under the company designation "S-80", featuring a third turboshaft engine and a more powerful rotor system. The US Navy and US Army were also seeking similar helicopters at the time. In October 1967, the US Marine Corps issued a requirement for a helicopter with a lifting capacity 1.8 times that of the CH-53D that would fit on amphibious warfare ships. The Air Force's MH-53H/J/M Pave Low helicopters were the last of the twin-engined H-53s and were equipped with extensive avionics upgrades for all-weather operation. Air Force's HH-53B/C "Super Jolly Green Giant" was for special operations and combat rescue, and was first deployed during the Vietnam War. The CH-53G was a version of the CH-53D produced in West Germany for the German Army. The CH-53D included a more powerful version of the General Electric T64 engine, used in all H-53 variants, and external fuel tanks. The RH-53A and RH-53D were used by the US Navy for minesweeping. Variants of the original CH-53A Sea Stallion include the RH-53A/D, HH-53B/C, CH-53D, CH-53G, and MH-53H/J/M. The first CH-53As were powered by two General Electric T64-GE-6 turboshaft engines with 2,850 shp (2,125 kW) and had a maximum gross weight of 46,000 lb (20,865 kg), including 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) in the payload. The helicopter was designated "CH-53A Sea Stallion" and delivery of production helicopters began in 1966. The prototype YCH-53A first flew on 14 October 1964. Sikorsky's S-65 was selected over Boeing Vertol's modified CH-47 Chinook version. ![]() ![]() Marines' "Heavy Helicopter Experimental" (HH(X)) competition began in 1962. The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, which has new engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin, is set to replace the CH-53E. The less common MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the United States Navy's need for long-range minesweeping or airborne mine countermeasures missions, and performs heavy-lift duties for the Navy. It was built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps. As the Sikorsky S-80, it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor, and canting the tail rotor 20°. The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter operated by the United States military. ![]()
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