Steven H. McLain Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 My question is this. Revell/Germany released several versions of the Sikorsky CH-53. Which one would be the latest updated helicopter, the CH-53GE/GS or the CH-53GA? Thank You. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 You can do direct comparisons of the contents of the two kits here: https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/products/Sikorsky-CH53GA.html#gallery_start https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/products/CH-53-GS-G.html#gallery_start The plastic appears to be the same in both, except that the GA has an additional sprue which includes the large 'towel rack' aerial. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 According to Scalemates the GA kit was released in 2013 with markings for 2013 scheme. The GS/G kit was released in 2021 with 2002 schemes. For the latest airframe the Germans are flying you want the GA kit. That kit has the digital IP and the GS/G has an analog IP. HTH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 If I had known about this question, I had asked the friendly crew member when I visited a CH-53GA on the Berlin Air show today... He mentioned that the GA we were touring is 50 years old and I think I remember that the GA-version is an earlier update, meaning that the GS is of a newer standard. However, it already had MFDs on the instrument panel. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 4 hours ago, Hajo L. said: He mentioned that the GA we were touring is 50 years old I think all German 53s are similar aged. They started as G’s, some upgraded to GS than some to GA. https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/germany-eur-520m-to-upgrade-40-ch53g-helicopters-03061/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PeepingBear Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 CH-53G was the original variant, more or less equivalent to the American CH-53D. The German Heeresflieger (Army Aviation) got 112 machines between 1972 and '75. There were three operational regiments: HFlgRgt 15 in Rheine, HFlgRgt 25 in Laupheim, and HFlgRgt 35 in Mendig, each with >30 helicopters, a small number was used at the Heeresfliegerwaffenschule in Bückeburg and as test aircraft. Mendig was disbanded in 2002, their machines were handed over to the other two regiments. In the year 2012/13 the Luftwaffe took over all German CH-53, this was a problematic change, leading to a severe loss of know how, since an unexpectedly large percentage of army aviation personnel preferred not to become Lufwaffe... The variant GS was a technical upgrade until 2002, resulting from out of area experiences (UN missions, the Balkans) to cope with the new mission demands: improved rotor blades, external tanks, engine air particle separators, GPS, improved night vison capabilities, partial cabin armour, defensive sensors. 20 helicopters got this upgrade. The variant GA was a further technical upgrade for 40 helicopters from 2010 to '17 focusing on navigation, secure communication and SatCom, ECM, FLIR, a full exchange of cables and reinforcement of the fuselage (due to old age). The aimwas to extend the CH-53's lifetime until 2030. So: GA is the latest upgrade. Google should be able to translate thie: https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/ausruestung-technik-bundeswehr/luftsysteme-bundeswehr/sikorsky-ch-53 The German Wikipedia srticle laso has more detail: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_CH-53#Bundeswehr HFlgRgt 15 (later mTrspHubschrRgt 15) was my reserve post until its decommissioning in 2013 (but I was "only" observer/ navigator on the Bo 105) https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mittleres_Transporthubschrauberregiment_15 HTH Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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