ElectroSoldier Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Hi guys. Did the HH-53B, HH-53C, MH-53J or MH-53M ever use the rotor fold mechanism as depicted in the Reskit rotos fold set? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 I believe only USN and USMC H-53s used the folding rotors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 I'll double check, but I believe the PAVE LOWs (MH-53) had folding rotors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 Apperently Pave Lows did have the blade folding system. "A specialist checks the folding system on a MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter..." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hawg53 Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 The USAF MH-53J/M had folding rotors. The HH-53B/C and CH-53C did not have folding rotors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 When were they used? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 2 hours ago, ElectroSoldier said: When were they used? I’d guess when the aircraft was carried inside a C-5 or C-17. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 Rotors were removed for that. Ive seen that done at Mildenhall, stripped down and loaded into a Galaxy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hawg53 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Yes, when the helicopter was transported by C-5 the helicopter was basically disassembled. The main rotors, rotor head, main transmission, aux tanks, aux tank supports, and one tail rotor blade were removed. It was quite a process. Then when the helicopter got to where it was going, the maintainers has 12 hours to put it all back together for a flight crew to do an air test on her. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share Posted October 4, 2019 Yeah I used to see it when I lived in Mildenhall. So when was the rotor fold actually used? Didnt they launch from a US Navy drum a couple of times? I assume they would have had to use them then... In which can a carrier deck scene would be needed right? I wouldnt mind that as I did my CH-53E with its rotors unfolded. Just because I wanted to see it as its different... Then the CH-53E became like gold dust so couldnt do one folded up Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 (edited) 18 hours ago, ElectroSoldier said: So when was the rotor fold actually used? Didnt they launch from a US Navy drum a couple of times? I assume they would have had to use them then... In which can a carrier deck scene would be needed right? As seen here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6490894 Search 'MH-53J CVN-73' at the site - there are 12 photos... Edited October 5, 2019 by andyf117 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 On 10/3/2019 at 11:40 PM, hawg53 said: Yes, when the helicopter was transported by C-5 the helicopter was basically disassembled. The main rotors, rotor head, main transmission, aux tanks, aux tank supports, and one tail rotor blade were removed. It was quite a process. Then when the helicopter got to where it was going, the maintainers has 12 hours to put it all back together for a flight crew to do an air test on her. As seen here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6497547 A couple of other pics (search 'MH-53J C-5' there) show smaller nosewheels being fitted... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hawg53 Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 It was always interesting to see a C-5 on the ramp. Usually, we asked, “Where are we going this time”? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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