Sikorsky successfully carried out first flight of the U.S. Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter prototype, from its ...
Sikorsky successfully carried out first flight of the U.S. Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter prototype, from its West Palm Beach facility in Florida.
The Engineering Development Model-1 (EDM-1), flew for 30-minute flight at altitude of up to 30 feet to assess basic aircraft controllability and performed hover, sideward, rearward and forward flight control inputs.
The maiden flight marks the beginning of a 2,000-hour flight test program using four test aircraft, to fully expand the King Stallion’s flight envelope over the course of the three-year flight test program.
Sikorsky has tested the aircraft’s many components and subsystems, including integrated system level testing on the Ground Test Vehicle. The program have been delayed almost a year, following technical problems including a main rotor gear box issue.
Sikorsky delivered the EDM-1 into the test program at the company’s West Palm Beach, based Development Flight Center in late 2014.
The CH-53K will replace the USMC CH-53E SUPER STALLION™ fleet, and will transport Marines, heavy equipment and supplies during ship-to-shore movement in support of amphibious assault and subsequent operations ashore.
The CH-53K will expand the fleet's ability to move more material, more rapidly throughout the area of responsibility. Using proven and matured technologies, the King Stallion is designed to lift 14 tons at a mission radius of 110 nautical miles in Navy high/hot environments - three times the baseline CH-53E lift capability.
The CH-53K maintains similar physical dimensions to the CH-53E. It is powered by three GE38-1B (designated the T408 by the US government) engines rated at 7,332-rated shaft horsepower each, featuring fewer parts, less fuel consumption and more power.
When compared to the T64 turboshaft engine that powers the SUPER STALLION aircraft – the GE38 will provide more than 57 percent more power, 18 percent better specific fuel consumption and 63 percent fewer parts. The GE38 features a more rugged compressor design to increase durability and resistance to sand erosion and salt water corrosion — features ideal to withstand the USMC’s tough operating environment.
Features of the CH-53K helicopter include a modern glass cockpit; fly-by-wire flight controls; fourth-generation rotor blades with anhedral tips; a low-maintenance elastomeric rotor head; a locking, United States Air Force pallet compatible cargo rail system; external cargo handling improvements; survivability enhancements; and improved reliability, maintainability and supportability.
Other improvements include improved hydraulics, enhanced ballistic protection, crashworthy retracting landing gear, integral engine air particle protection system, automatic blade fold system and Rockwell Collins avionics management system.
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Program of Record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft with a Initial Operational Capability in 2019.
Eventual production quantities would be determined year-by-year over the life of the program based on funding allocations set by Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense acquisition priorities.
The Marine Corps intends to stand up eight active duty squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron to support operational requirements.
