CH-53K Helicopter Completed an External Lift of a 36,000-Pound Payload

CH-53K Helicopter Completed an External Lift of a 36,000-Pound Payload

Photo: Lockheed Martin

The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion completed an external lift of a 36,000-pound payload at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center, achieving a maximum weight on the single center point cargo hook. This milestone marks the completion of critical flight envelope expansion activities for the CH-53K as Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company prepares to deliver the first aircraft to the US Marine Corps this year.

The CH-53K lifted the external load of 36,000 lbs into a hover followed by flight demonstrating satisfactory handling qualities and structural margins. The gross weight of the aircraft topped out at just over 91,000 lbs., making this the heaviest helicopter ever flown by Sikorsky

"The successful completion of these last critical envelope expansion tests further demonstrates the maturity of the CH-53K aircraft," said Dr. Michael Torok, Sikorsky Vice President, Marine Corps Systems. "We look forward to bringing this unique and exceptional heavy-lift capability to the United States Marine Corps and our international customers."

Prior to the 36,000-lbs lift, the CH-53K lifted various external payloads up to 27,000 lbs, including a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The CH-53K can carry a 27,000-lb external load over 110 nautical miles in high/hot conditions, which is more than triple the external load carrying capacity of the legacy CH-53E aircraft. Other flight envelope accomplishments include tethered hover demonstrating flight speeds to 200 knots, angle of bank to 60 degrees, takeoffs and landings from sloped surfaces up to 12 degrees, external load auto-jettison, and gunfire testing.

"The payload capability of this helicopter is unmatched, triple that of its predecessor and better than any other heavy lift helicopter in production," added Col. Hank Vanderborght, US Marine Corps Program Manager for the Naval Air Systems Command's Heavy Lift Helicopters Program. 

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