The second prototype of Sikorsky's CH-53K heavy lift helicopter has achieved flight envelope expansion to 120 knots speed during flight...
The second prototype of Sikorsky's CH-53K heavy lift helicopter has achieved flight envelope expansion to 120 knots speed during flight testing over Sikorsky’s Development Flight Test Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The Engineering Development Models (EDM) of the first and second CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter which is being developed for US Marine Corps, achieved their first flights on Oct. 27, 2015, and Jan. 22, 2016, respectively.
To date these helicopters have achieved over 35 flight hours combined including multiple flights with an active duty USMC pilot at the controls.
As the flight test program proceeds, these two flying CH-53K helicopters will be joined by two additional aircraft to complete flight qualification of the USMC's next generation heavy lift capability over an approximately three-year flight test program.
These first two aircraft are the most heavily instrumented of the Engineering Development Models (EDM) and will focus on structural flight loads and envelope expansion.
When the other two EDM aircraft join the flight line in 2016 they will focus on performance, propulsion and avionics flight qualification.
The triple engined King Stallion maintains similar physical dimensions with a reduced "footprint" compared to its predecessor, the three-engine CH-53E SUPER STALLION helicopter, but will more than triple the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under "high hot" ambient conditions.
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; upgraded engines; a locking, United States Air Force pallet compatible cargo rail system; external cargo handling improvements; survivability enhancements; and improved reliability, maintainability and supportability.
The U.S. Department of Defense's CH-53K program of record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft. The Marine Corps intends to stand up eight active duty squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron to support operational requirements.
The Engineering Development Models (EDM) of the first and second CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter which is being developed for US Marine Corps, achieved their first flights on Oct. 27, 2015, and Jan. 22, 2016, respectively.
To date these helicopters have achieved over 35 flight hours combined including multiple flights with an active duty USMC pilot at the controls.
As the flight test program proceeds, these two flying CH-53K helicopters will be joined by two additional aircraft to complete flight qualification of the USMC's next generation heavy lift capability over an approximately three-year flight test program.
These first two aircraft are the most heavily instrumented of the Engineering Development Models (EDM) and will focus on structural flight loads and envelope expansion.
When the other two EDM aircraft join the flight line in 2016 they will focus on performance, propulsion and avionics flight qualification.
The triple engined King Stallion maintains similar physical dimensions with a reduced "footprint" compared to its predecessor, the three-engine CH-53E SUPER STALLION helicopter, but will more than triple the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under "high hot" ambient conditions.
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; upgraded engines; a locking, United States Air Force pallet compatible cargo rail system; external cargo handling improvements; survivability enhancements; and improved reliability, maintainability and supportability.
The U.S. Department of Defense's CH-53K program of record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft. The Marine Corps intends to stand up eight active duty squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron to support operational requirements.
