High Gallery
 |
Military Aircraft CH-53D STALLION Photo By Salamander |
| In the late 1950s Sikorsky began work on the basic design for a successor to the piston -engine S-56. The result was a pair of helicopters sharing many components, the S-64 became the CH-54 Tarhe flying crane, and the S-65 with a conventional but amphibious fuselage became the US Marine Corps' CH-53 Sea Stallion transport helicopter. First flown in October 1964 for service from mid 1966, the CH-53 has retractable tricycle landing gear and a large hold with straight in access provided by a rear ramp/door. The type went through several models in its basic version, and has paved the way for a much improved series with three rather than two engines. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
|
Manufacturer: Sikorsky |
Height: 24 ft. 11 in. |
| First Flight: October 1964 | Empty Weight: 23,485 lb. |
| Model :D | Max. Weight: 42,000 lb. |
| Crew: Three | Payload: Between 55 and 64 troops or 24 litters plus four attendants, or freight. |
| Nickname: Sea Stallion |
Dimensions |
| Basic Role: Assault transport. | Main Rotor Diameter: 72 ft. 3 in. |
| Other
Versions: CH-53A the initial model with 2,850-shp
T64-GE-6 turbo shafts and a payload of 38 troops, or 24 litters, or 8,000
lb of internal freight including a HAWK surface to air missile system
or 105-mm/4.14-in howitzer, or a 13,000 lb slung freight load.CH-53D improved model with automatic folding
of the main rotor blades, considerable more power, and a revised hold for
much larger troop capacity. CH-53G the CH-53D version for West Germany,
110 of them built under license by VFW-Fokker.
S-65Oe version for Austria. |
Length Overall Rotor Turning: 88 ft. 3 in. |
| Principal User: Austria, Iran, Israel, USA, and West Germany. | Main Rotor Disk Area: 4,099.8 sq. ft. |
|
Performance |
Propulsion |
| Range: 257 miles. | Power Plant: General Electric T64-GE-413 turboshafts. |
| Max. Speed: 196 mph. at sea level. | Horsepower: 3,925-shp. |
| Ceiling: 21,000 ft. | No. Of Engines: Two |
| Climb Rate: 2,180 ft. per minute. |