Sikorsky
H-53
Sea Stallion / Jolly Green Giant / Pave Low
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MH-53M Pave Low IV
Photo: Robert Deering 10/18/2012
National Museum of the USAF
Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO)
Dayton, Ohio

The CH-53 Sea Stallion (Sikorsky S-65) is a family of heavy-lift transport helicopters designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft. Originally developed for use by the United States Marine Corps, it is currently in service with Germany, Iran, Israel, and Mexico. The United States Air Force operated the HH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant" during the late– and post–Vietnam-War era, updating most of them as the MH-53 Pave Low.

The Sea Stallion has a fuselage design similar to, but much larger than, the Sikorsky S-61R series. It has a passenger door on the right side of the fuselage behind the cockpit and a power-operated rear loading ramp. The fuselage is watertight, though not intended for amphibious use, and is only intended to land on water in emergencies. The Stallion has mechanical flight controls which are backed by three independent hydraulic systems. Armor protects crew and vital systems. 

The first YCH-53A performed its initial flight at the Sikorsky plant in Stratford, Connecticut, on 14 October 1964, about four months behind schedule. The Marines had already placed an initial production contract for 16 helicopters in September. Flight trials went more smoothly than expected, helping make up for the time lost in development. It received the military designation and name "CH-53A Sea Stallion". Delivery of production CH-53s began in 1966.

The CH-53A arrived in Vietnam in January 1967 and proved useful, eventually recovering even more downed aircraft than the CH-54. A total of 141 CH-53As were built, including the two prototypes. The U.S. Navy acquired 15 CH-53As from the USMC in 1971 for airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) activities. The helicopters had more powerful T64-GE-413 turboshafts installed and received the designation "RH-53A".

The United States Air Force ordered the HH-53B in September 1966 and it first flew on 15 March 1967. It added a refueling probe, drop fuel tanks and a rescue hoist; it also featured upgraded T64-GE-3 engines. The Air Force used the HH-53B for combat search and rescue (CSAR).[4] HH-53C was an improved CSAR variant with a smaller 450 US gallons (1,700 L) fuel tank in exchange for more armor and better communication systems. The CH-53C was similar except it lacked a refueling probe. It was used by the USAF for more general transport work.

Source: Wikipedia

Variants

YCH-53A
Two prototypes with two 2,850 shp (2,130 kW) T64-GE-3 engines.

CH-53A
Initial production variant for the USMC. 139 built.

RH-53A
CH-53A reengined with two 3,925 shp (2,927 kW) T64-GE-413 engines as Airborne Mine CounterMeasures (AMCM) variants for the U.S. Navy. 15 conversions.

TH-53A
Stripped CH-53As used for training by the United States Air Force.

CH-53D
CH-53A with an improved transmission, larger cabin for 55 troops and automatic rotor blade folding for the United States Marine Corps, 126 built.

RH-53D
United States Navy AMCM variant of the CH-53D, fitted with 0.50-inch caliber machine guns and provision for air refueling. 30 built for the USN.

VH-53D
Two CH-53Ds for USMC VIP transport 

VH-53F
Six unbuilt VIP helicopters for the US Navy/Marine Corps.

CH-53GS
Update of 20 CH-53Gs in the late 1990s, with additional missile counter measure, upgraded communication and navigation system and two external fuel tanks added. 

CH-53GE
A configuration based on CH-53GS combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) capabilities. 

CH-53GA
Update of further 40 CH-53Gs with new flight deck, new flight control system, autopilot, navigation and communication systems, FLIR, ECM and missile counter measures as well as provisions for additional internal fuel tanks.

CH-53K King Stallion
The design features three 7,500 
shp (5,590 kW) engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin than previous CH-53 variants.

TH-53A
Training version used by US Air Force (USAF)

HH-53B
CH-53A type for USAF search and rescue (SAR)

CH-53C
Heavy-lift version for USAF, 22 built

HH-53C
"Super Jolly Green Giant", improved HH-53B for USAF

YHH-53H
Prototype Pave Low I aircraft for USAF

HH-53H
Pave Low II night infiltrator for USAF

MH-53H
Redesignation of HH-53H

MH-53J
"Pave Low III" special operations conversions of HH-53B, HH-53C, and HH-53H for USAF.

MH-53M
"Pave Low IV" upgraded MH-53Js for USAF.

MH-53 Pave Low

Air Force special operations forces used the Sikorsky MH-53M to covertly enter enemy territory. Capable of operating at day or night or in bad weather, these helicopters conducted long-range, low-level missions to insert, extract, and resupply special operations forces.


The MH-53 helicopters were originally HH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giants" used by the U.S. Air Force in the Southeast Asia War. Over the years, however, they received many upgrades and improvements. After the 1960s, they were completely re-skinned and had their engines and rotors replaced. Along with these improvements came a new designation, MH-53 ("M" for Multi-mission and "H" for helicopter).

The most significant enhancement to the Super Jollies was the Pave Low program, which modified them for operating at night or during bad weather. Equipped with forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors, inertial global positioning systems (GPS), Doppler radar navigation systems, and terrain-following and terrain-avoidance radar, the MH-53 could fly clandestine, low-level missions in any weather, day or night.

The MH-53M Pave Low IV has a system that greatly increased the aircraft's capabilities. This system gave the aircrew instant access to the total battlefield situation on a color, digital map screen that was compatible with night vision goggles. Using feeds from satellite links, the system displayed nearly real-time information about potential hazards along the flight route such as power lines or enemy electronic threats.

The aircraft on display was assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron and its last flight was a combat mission in Iraq on March 28, 2008. During its 38-year career, this helicopter participated in many important missions. It carried the "command element" on the mission known as Operation Kingpin, to rescue American prisoners of war thought to be held at the Son Tay prison near Hanoi, North Vietnam. It is the last among the five HH-53s that participated in that raid. After Vietnam, it also flew in many more combat engagements including Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom before it was retired.

In 2008 the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) retired the MH-53 from active service.