Cool vid. What is the ceiling and top speed of one?

This is awesome! The 53 has got to be one of the coolest helicopters ever made. I've never actually seen one in flight but have gotten to climb around quite a few on static display and in museums. It's amazing that something that big can beat it's way into the air!

quote:

Originally posted by hberttmank:
Cool vid. What is the ceiling and top speed of one?

Although it's capable of operating up to 18,000 feet, we never took it above 10,000 feet. We generally cruised at 160 knots but it was capable of 170 knots. We once had a tailwind and the GPS was tracking us at 210 knots.

It's capable of internally carrying 32,000 pounds and externally carrying up to 36,000 pounds.

The helicopter itself weighs 33,000 pounds without cargo or fuel.

If I remember correctly, it carries 16,000 pounds of fuel and can fly for 4 hours without refueling. It can also aerial refuel.

Tony.

Super cool aircraft. Looks like a great time.

My Cuz was USMC ordinance whatever, put bombs on Cobras and F18s, I learned a lot from him. He taught me about "The Jesus Pin."

I like that A4 Blue Angel. Just saw the Blue Angles last week at fleet week here. Always a good time.

Hey Tony what squadron were you in? I was in HMH-462 years 82-86. We were still flying the A & D models back then. I was in the airframe metal shop.

quote:

Originally posted by wingfoot:
Hey Tony what squadron were you in? I was in HMH-462 years 82-86. We were still flying the A & D models back then. I was in the airframe metal shop.

HMH-466, avionics. I was in from 1991 to February of 2001. Got out 7 months before 9/11.

From 1997 to 2001 I was in HMH-469 and spent my last 2 years at Edwards AFB. We flew the last aircraft out of El Toro when it was closed.

Tony.

It was sad to see Tustin and El Toro shut down. I drove around Tustin about 20 years ago to check it out. Also sad to see one of the old blimp hangars burn down.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

quote:

Originally posted by wingfoot:

It was sad to see Tustin and El Toro shut down. ...

http://www.airfields-freeman.c...angeCo_SE.htm#eltoro

http://www.airfields-freeman.c...angeCo_SE.htm#tustin

Hey, thanks for posting that timeline of Tustin and El Toro, those brought back some memories. I hadn’t seen that website before.

Titusville warbird museum acquires huge U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon minesweeping helicopter

by Rick Neale
Florida Today
Oct 17, 2024

So what's it like flying inside a hulking U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon, the biggest, heaviest helicopter in the Western world?

"It's a Cadillac. It's a boat, I would say, like an Oldsmobile maybe?" Cmdr. Andrew Sebastiano said, laughing.

"What you have to remember is, when you're sitting up here (in the cockpit), you've got 100 feet of aircraft behind you," Sebastiano said.

The huge Navy helicopter arrived above Space Coast Regional Airport about 2:10 p.m. Wednesday, rotors roaring above the runway while a nearby North American T-6 Texan provided an aerial escort...

Complete article with a video and 30+ photos:

https://www.floridatoday.com/s...florida/75698696007/