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H-53 Reference photos for 2020!!


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Another new pic emerged. Again from 1991, this one shows HMH-466 CH-53E 161386/YK-53 with "61" (no idea of the BuNo) in the middle and unknown in the back.

Interestning is that "53" has probably the EAPS for his 3rd engine from some other airframe, probably from some in sand/brown camo ... The pic is postwar, but where ?

Thanks !

 

 

1859230577_HMH-466SikorskyCH-53ESuperStallion161386-YK-53(1991.thumb.jpg.7e3f1d3d4f54382b98cd280e821f4720.jpg

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Jakub,

 

This picture is taken at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Yuma Arizona.

 

Very normal practice to swap EAPS barrels across multiple BuNo's in the squadron as they are a high maintenance item. Don't care what they are painted as long as the aircraft is "up" for missions.  Especially as we had to reset the fleet when we returned form the desert.  Lots of maintenance that was pushed off had to be done when we came home to get the aircraft back up to snuff.

 

Gunny

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Jakub,

 

In the above photograph I can tell you that these three aircraft are all 161XXX or 162XXX BuNo's as they all have the early tail blades and TRH installed on the aircraft.  The "Block Upgrade" began with the assignment of 163XXX BuNo's and the tail rotor blades were changed to the composite materials and the TRH changed to accommodate the new hub for said blades.

 

The CH-53E with both style blades has approximately a 20.0ft diameter.  Please see below.  This line drawing is in the public domain, and not controlled.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Gunny

s-65-34.jpg

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HM-15 MH-53E in overall FS36375(?) with FS36081 EAPS, AAR probe, mirrors, window frame, hoist, countermeasures unit, and towing rig:

131620354_10157931156201295_5597712145770202287_n.jpg.8abbc8d5a0442f51b3b26d566139366f.jpg

Edited by andyf117
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Here's a little know variant of the CH-53C. The Mid-Air Recovery System (MARS) CH-53Cs had gear installed to facilitate the recovery of satellites, but the system was also used to recover drones. Pilots assigned to MARS equipped helicopters, at either Hill or Hickam AFB, had to have a FAM flight with the gear, etc...

The amendment documents to the CH-53C pilot TO is very informative.

 

Mike Wilson

 

2103905232_CH-53CMid-AirRecoverySystem(MARS)helicopterrecoversandAGM-86BCruiseMissileafterterminationoftestflight(DF-SC-82-10596).jpeg

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5 hours ago, mikeavphoto said:

Here's a little know variant of the CH-53C. The Mid-Air Recovery System (MARS) CH-53Cs had gear installed to facilitate the recovery of satellites, but the system was also used to recover drones. Pilots assigned to MARS equipped helicopters, at either Hill or Hickam AFB, had to have a FAM flight with the gear, etc...

The amendment documents to the CH-53C pilot TO is very informative.

 

Mike Wilson

I actually posted that same pic back on page 5 of this thread - it's a test ALCM that it's retrieving...

....what I haven't been able to identify is that particular aircraft's serial number...

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Copy that AndyF117. I apologize for repeating the effort. I'm trying to get back into my H-53 research and came across the image I thought folks might like to see.

 

With that, attached is a more recent image. I was on board the US Naval Academy 01 April to photograph the Marine Capabilities demo put on for the Midshipman. The helicopters, and two HMX-1 MV-22Bs were parked on the soccer field while the wheeled vehicles were parked elsewhere.

 

Mike Wilson

CH-53E 165651 HMH-772 MT05 USNA MWilson 01 April 2022 (04) reduced.jpg

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Mike,

 

This is the research thread so post away, I know you have a "vast" stash of H-53 info to share.  I've been to your office at PAX, so I now you have great stuff.

 

r/Gunny

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This is a very informative thread; recently, I started to gather references for a future project of a Yasur 2000, which I understand is essentially a CH-53D.

 

I'll be thankful if someone can share images or diagrams of the equipment around the main rotor gearbox; I plan to utilize metal mesh in the ventilation openings around this area and add basic detailing to the inside.

 

I found some interesting pictures of the frontal area on the German version but nothing in the back section where the two big openings are.

 

Regards

 

Carlos

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I have a question about the Reskit H-53 48th scale rotor head. 

I bought it to go on a MH-53J I want to eventually build. It's got 

folded rotor blades but I want it unfolded...can it be built that way?

This is a great thread for a fantastic helicopter.

 

Cheers...Ron

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Ron,

 

As far as I know the Reskit 1/48th CH-53D or as they call it "6-blade" version can be built spread or folded.  The picture shows the Sleeve & Spindles in their folded "open" positions.  I believe in the instructions it shows you how to glue them in the spread or folded positions.  I will open up my Reskit MRH's and check for you to be sure.  If it is sold molded in only the folded position, it would be very easy to carefully cut at the fold hinge and glue the S&S in their spread positions.

 

Again I will double check my stash of Reskit stuff and verify.

 

r/Gunny Dan

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On 5/29/2022 at 4:09 PM, aircommando130 said:

I have a question about the Reskit H-53 48th scale rotor head. 

I bought it to go on a MH-53J I want to eventually build. It's got 

folded rotor blades but I want it unfolded...can it be built that way?

This is a great thread for a fantastic helicopter.

 

Cheers...Ron

 

Hello Ron, I have the RSU48-0011 from ResKit, and the halves of each hinge are molded separately, so in theory, they could be assembled both ways, but the instructions show them only in the folded position.

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7 hours ago, cruiz said:

 

Hello Ron, I have the RSU48-0011 from ResKit, and the halves of each hinge are molded separately, so in theory, they could be assembled both ways, but the instructions show them only in the folded position.

 

Thanks for the info! I will try an "unfold" it!

 

Cheers...Ron

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  • 2 months later...

Further to my previous post regarding a newly-found photo of a 'White Top' H-53 seen landing aboard USS Forrestal on 4 July 1976, today I stumbled across this one in a PDF document about HMX-1 that I've actually had on file for some time - I simply hadn't noticed it before...

....captioned as taken during a presidential visit to Puerto Rico in June 1976, it shows three VIP VH-53's on the ramp, two of which are 'White Tops' - until now, we thought there was only ever one:

622740959_VH-53DsPR6-76.jpg.830a7ccb83586cdcda94682b1164c0b8.jpg

The pdf is a compilation of blog posts by Sgt Mike O'Neill, recounting his service with HMX-1: https://www.flyboyzblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/HMX-1.pdf

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7 hours ago, andyf117 said:

Further to my previous post regarding a newly-found photo of a 'White Top' H-53 seen landing aboard USS Forrestal on 4 July 1976, today I stumbled across this one in a PDF document about HMX-1 that I've actually had on file for some time - I simply hadn't noticed it before...

....captioned as taken during a presidential visit to Puerto Rico in June 1976, it shows three VIP VH-53's on the ramp, two of which are 'White Tops' - until now, we thought there was only ever one:

622740959_VH-53DsPR6-76.jpg.830a7ccb83586cdcda94682b1164c0b8.jpg

The pdf is a compilation of blog posts by Sgt Mike O'Neill, recounting his service with HMX-1: https://www.flyboyzblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/HMX-1.pdf

Well there you have it photographic proof.  Nicely done Andy!!  Now to find out the BuNo of the mystery ship.  Also of note is all three appear to have early drop tanks with a canted down angle, representative of the HH-53 model where we know HMX-1 got their first H-53's from.

 

The plot thickens.....................

 

Gunz

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Andy & Gunny,

 

I may have found one white top serial for you. 157166. Here are the entries from helis.com/database.

 

V/r, Dutch

 

65-292   ch-53d                  157166 : S-65C, c/n 65-292, ff:?; del USMC as CH-53D 157166, unk; conv VH-53D, 1971; xfer HMX-1 1971; photo dtd as white top VH-53D. (@ I. A. Sikorsky Archives)

 

65-331   ch-53d  1971       157755 : Sikorsky S-65C, cn65-331, ff:?; del USMC as CH-53D 157755, NPRO Rep, 30Sep72; conv VH-53D for HMX-1, unk; xfer HMX-1, MCAS Quantico, VA, 25Jan72; to AMARC, Sep04.

 

65-332   ch-53d  1971       157756 : Sikorsky S-65C, cn65-332, ff:?; del USMC as CH-53D 157756, NPRO Rep, 29Oct: conv VH-53D for HMX-1, unk; xfer HMX-1, MCAS Quantico, VA, 11Feb72; to AMARC, Sep04.

 

65-333   ch-53d  1971       157930 : Sikorsky S-65C-1, c/n 65-333, ff?; del USMC as CH-53D 157930, 30Nov71; xfer HMX-1 as MX-23, 08Mar72; wfu & xfer AMARC as AN2J0099 25Nov96; moved Wiggins Group yard, Tucson, AZ, unk; rtnd AMARC as AN2J0123 10Sep04.

Edited by Dutch
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Another "stumbled across" photo - RH-53D 158683 with International Orange bits whilst assigned to the NATC in 1976:

https://www.airlinefan.com/airline-photos/United-States-Navy/Sikorsky/CH-53-Sea-Stallion/158683/1839089/

(Link is to page displaying copyrighted photo - click image, and then click again to activate 'zoom' viewer)

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I know that I'm not going to win any friends here, but I continue to argue the H-53s assigned to HMX-1 were not designated VH because they lacked the executive interior. My late career USMC father was assigned to HMX-1 when I was seven or eight years old, and I can remember checking out the Sea Stallions when families were allowed in the hangars; I know Sikorsky developed a roll-on/roll-off executive module for H-53s, but they were not acquired. Instead, more VH-3s were bought.

With that said, on 03 March 2011 I had to opportunity to visit HMX-1 the day the last CH-53Es were departing and my escort was someone Gunny Hammer might remember from our Pax River days - Maj. Merriman. The Major was kind enough to have the enlisted Marines roll out the kit they use to transport White House staff for me to photograph.

As you can see from the attached images, covers are used on the standard troop seats and a mat is put on the ramp and the cargo deck. Needless to say, the VIP pax are still subject to dripping hydraulic fluid during flight.

Gunny, I am slowly returning to my book project, but other more important matters still have priority such as a few remaining legal stuff regarding my late bride, and I'm back to work as a photographer for the Navy. Not at Pax, but in Silver Spring.

 

Returning to my rabbit hole,

Mike Wilson

CH-53E cargo ramp HMX-1 .jpg

CH-53E Cargo seating HMX-1 .jpg

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On 8/6/2022 at 9:34 AM, mikeavphoto said:

I know that I'm not going to win any friends here, but I continue to argue the H-53s assigned to HMX-1 were not designated VH because they lacked the executive interior. My late career USMC father was assigned to HMX-1 when I was seven or eight years old, and I can remember checking out the Sea Stallions when families were allowed in the hangars; I know Sikorsky developed a roll-on/roll-off executive module for H-53s, but they were not acquired. Instead, more VH-3s were bought.

With that said, on 03 March 2011 I had to opportunity to visit HMX-1 the day the last CH-53Es were departing and my escort was someone Gunny Hammer might remember from our Pax River days - Maj. Merriman. The Major was kind enough to have the enlisted Marines roll out the kit they use to transport White House staff for me to photograph.

As you can see from the attached images, covers are used on the standard troop seats and a mat is put on the ramp and the cargo deck. Needless to say, the VIP pax are still subject to dripping hydraulic fluid during flight.

Gunny, I am slowly returning to my book project, but other more important matters still have priority such as a few remaining legal stuff regarding my late bride, and I'm back to work as a photographer for the Navy. Not at Pax, but in Silver Spring.

 

Returning to my rabbit hole,

Mike Wilson

 

Mike, You are absolutely correct. No CH-53D/Es were EVER designated VH-53D/E, as you pointed out that they had no VIP interior. They were used merely for support, hauling the gear and support staff around, as well as Lts attending The Basic School, though without the nice interior and rear ramp mat.  I will see if I can fix the helis.com database entry. As to why the white top versus all green paint, I will ask Joe Morgenthal. Beautiful photos, BTW. K/r, Dutch  

Edited by Dutch
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