Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion during roll out photo:Sikorsky Sikorsky officially unveiled its new CH-53K heavy lift helicopter, for t...
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| Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion during roll out photo:Sikorsky |
Sikorsky officially unveiled its new CH-53K heavy lift helicopter, for the U.S. Marine Corps.
During the roll out ceremony, the Commandant of the Marine Corps General F. Amos named the new helicopter: the “King Stallion.”
The next generation in the CH-53 type series which were first introduced in 1966, is expected to begin operational service in 2019.
CH-53K's major airframe sections were built from strong, lightweight advanced composite materials by Aurora Flight Sciences, Exelis, GKN Aerospace and Spirit Aerosystems.
CH-53K also features the largest and most technologically advanced all-composite main rotor blade, with a span length of 35 feet, and almost three feet chord width, and has 12 percent more surface area than the CH-53E blade.
The CH-53K aircraft will effectively triple the external load carrying capacity of the CH-53E aircraft to more than 27,000 pounds over a mission radius of 110 nautical miles.
It is powered by three GE T408 turboshaft engine with 7,500 shp (5,600 kW) each. Compared to the CH-53E aircraft’s T64 turboshaft powerplant, the new engines provide 57 percent more power for approximately 20 percent lower specific fuel consumption. To convert the extra engine power into torque and shaft horsepower within a similarly-sized main gearbox, Sikorsky developed a new transmission that efficiently transfers the engine power to the CH-53K helicopter’s main rotors.
For exceptional flight handling qualities and low pilot workload of this massive 38 tonne helicopter, a Rockwell Collins digital glass cockpit and a fly-by-wire flight control system developed by Sikorsky, UTC Aerospace Systems, Eaton and BAE is used.
In April, Sikorsky began powered ground tests of the CH-53K aircraft systems, such as rotors, drive, electrical, hydraulic, avionics and flight controls.
Hundreds of hours of powered ground tests will prepare the CH-53K team for first flight at the end of 2014, and the start of a three-year flight test program.
US Marine Corps intends to order 200 CH-53K production aircraft and stand up eight operational squadrons and one training squadron to support the Marine Corp's operational requirements.
