CH-53K ground tests

[sevenhelmet]

One of my TPS classmates (a Marine) is out in West Palm now for that program. He was recruited to TPS specifically because he is a -53 guy.

 

[ChuckMK23]

So impressed with this program! Marine Corps finally getting a true heavy lift platform in a modern package - undoubtedly the K will filter into Navy side as well. Will be interesting to see true MMH/FH numbers and detachment manning requirements. It will be a hit if they can deploy 2 x aircraft with under 12 people

 

[ChuckMK23]

 

[707guy]

View attachment 15560

Wow - triple the load - impressive!

 

[ChuckMK23]

Wow - triple the load - impressive!

Nice little graphic we designed to show the impact of the new T408 engine

You P-3 guys will recognize this motor from the LRAACA P-7 days as the T407 turboprop.

 

[ChuckMK23]

100 KIAS baby!

 

[ChuckMK23]

Apparently the 120 KIAS test the other day did not go quite so well! No show stoppers but definitely some engineering changes.

 

[nittany03]

Apparently the 120 KIAS test the other day did not go quite so well! No show stoppers but definitely some engineering changes.

Well when you get that slow, it's hard to keep from departing and falling out of the sky.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Well when you get that slow, it's hard to keep from departing and falling out of the sky.

120? That's moving. VNE on the mighty JetRanger was 130 which you could reach in a dive. Tried to catch a cop car in the TH-57 one night but couldn't - then again, the police man had a Hemi.

Go Baby GO!

What is VNE on The Big Iron? 170? 180?

 

[Gatordev]

As a stud, I remember one hot, sticky, summer night trying to get back from the instrument/BI area before NDZ closed. The IP had the stud flying at 110 knots, and even in the back, I could feel the chop of just prior to blade stall on the airframe from the backseat. Even if the engine had anything left in it, I don't think that particular helicopter had anything left to give that night.

 

[ChuckMK23]

H-60 guys see 150+ right?

 

[ChuckMK23]

Ch-53K was designed to cruise at 150KIAS. So the flight test failure at 1:20 was a bit of a surprise. They found the problem and are rectifying it

 

[SynixMan]

H-60 guys see 150+ right?

I picked up a Sierra from the factory. No internal aux tank, maxed out, about 155 KIAS. In a regular mission config, 130 is about max. Usually TQ limited at sea level.

 

[Jim123]

H-60 guys see 150+ right?

Clean Block 0 60B, light on gas, I'm pretty sure we could hit just over 160 flat out. A bit like drag racing in a short bus but even noisier.

 

[ChuckMK23]

We did 140 in the '46 pretty easily. the 53K is significant in that the Marines wanted a standard 150Kt cruise - hence the sponson configuration. It will be a fast machine given the blade design, 3 x 7500 SHP motors, and next gen gear box.