https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikors...Super_Stallion

The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the
United States military. As the Sikorsky S-80 it was developed from the CH-53 Sea
Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main
rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. It was built by Sikorsky Aircraft
for the United States Marine Corps. The less common MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the
United States Navy's need for long range minesweeping or Airborne Mine
Countermeasures (AMCM) missions, and perform heavy-lift duties for the Navy.
Under development is the CH-53K King Stallion, which will be equipped with new
engines, new composite material rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin.

Although dimensionally similar, the three engine CH-53E Super Stallion or
Sikorsky S-80 is a much more powerful aircraft than the original Sikorsky S-65
twin engined CH-53A Sea Stallion. The CH-53E also added a larger main rotor
system with a seventh blade.

The CH-53E can transport up to 55 troops or 30,000 lb (13,610 kg) of cargo and
can carry external slung loads up to 36,000 lb (16,330 kg). The Super Stallion
has a cruise speed of 173 mph (278 km/h) and a range of 621 miles (1,000 km).
The helicopter is fitted with a forward extendable in-flight refueling probe and
it can also hoist hose refuel from a surface ship while in hover mode. It can
carry three machine guns: one at the starboard side crew door; one at the port
window, just behind the copilot; and one at the tail ramp. The CH-53E also has
chaff-flare dispensers.

The MH-53E features enlarged side mounted fuel sponsons and is rigged for towing
various minesweeping and hunting gear from above the dangerous naval mines. The
Sea Dragon can be equipped for minesweeping, cargo and passenger transportation,
and troop insertion. Its digital flight-control system includes features
specifically designed to help towing mine sweeping gear.

Upgrades to the CH-53E have included the Helicopter Night Vision System (HNVS),
improved .50 BMG (12.7 mm) GAU-21/A and M3P machine guns, and AAQ-29A forward
looking infrared (FLIR) imager.

The CH-53E and the MH-53E are the largest helicopters in the Western world,
while the CH-53K now being developed will be even larger. They are fourth in the
world to the Russian Mil Mi-26 Halo single-rotor helicopter and the enormous,
twin transverse rotored Mil V-12 Homer, which can lift more than 22 tons (20
tonnes) and 44 tons (40 tonnes), respectively and the Mi-26's single-rotor
predecessor Mil Mi-6, which has less payload (12 tonnes) but is bigger and has a
higher MTOW at 42 tonnes.


Role
Heavy-lift cargo helicopter

National origin
United States

Manufacturer
Sikorsky Aircraft

First flight
1 March 1974

Introduction
1981

Status
In service

Primary users
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Produced
1978–1980s

Number built
234

Unit cost

US$24.36 million (1992, avg. cost)


Developed from
Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion

Developed into
Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion

The Super Stallion variant first entered service with the creation of Heavy
Marine Helicopter Squadron 464 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North
Carolina. Two more squadrons were created at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin,
California over the next several years, HMH-465 and HMH-466. In addition, one
west coast training squadron, HMT-301, was given Super Stallions as was one more
east coast squadron, HMH-772, out of a reserve base at NASJRB Willow Grove,
Pennsylvania. Since then, other Marine Heavy lift squadrons have retired their
CH-53As and Ds, replacing them with Es.

Super Stallions again played a major role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. They
were critical to moving supplies and ammunition to the most forward Marine units
and also assisted in moving casualties back to the rear for follow on care.
Marine CH-53Es and CH-46Es carried US Army Rangers and Special Operations troops
in a mission to rescue captured Army Private Jessica Lynch on 1 April 2003.

Currently about 150 CH-53E helicopters are in service with the Marines and
another 28 MH-53Es are in service with the U.S Navy. The CH-53 requires 44
maintenance hours per flight hour. A flight hour costs about $20,000.

Specifications (CH-53E)

General characteristics
Crew: 5: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief/right gunner, 1 left gunner, 1 tail gunner
(combat crew)
Capacity: 37 troops (55 with centerline seats installed)
Payload: internal: 30,000 lb or 13,600 kg (external: 36,000 lb or 14,500 kg)
Length: 99 ft 1/2 in (30.2 m)
Rotor diameter: 79 ft (24 m)
Height: 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)
Disc area: 4,900 ft² (460 m²)
Empty weight: 33,226 lb (15,071 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 73,500 lb (33,300 kg)
Rotor systems: 7 blades on main rotor, 4 blades on anti-torque tail rotor
Powerplant: 3 × General Electric T64-GE-416/416A turboshaft, 4,380 shp (3,270
kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h)
Cruise speed: 150 kt (173 mph, 278 km/h)
Range: 540 nmi (621 mi, 1,000 km)
Ferry range: 990 nmi (1,139 mi, 1,833 km)
Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,640 m)
Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)

Armament

Guns:
2× .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) window-mounted GAU-15/A machine guns
1× .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) ramp mounted weapons system, GAU-21 (M3M mounted
machine gun)

Other: Chaff and flare dispensers




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