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Sikorsky
MH-53 Pave Low (2 Pics)
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Sikorsky
MH-53 Pave Low (2 Pics)
[photogallery/photogallery/photo5747/real.htm]
The
H-53 Pave Low, still widely Known by
its Vietnam-era nickname "Super Jolly" is the USAF's largest and most
powerful helicopter.
The
H-53 is a conventional, long-range
helicopter with twin turbo shaft engines and self lubricating, all-metal main
and tail rotors.
The
helicopter has a flight crew of two pilots and navigator, plus two Para rescue
technicians (PJs) for rescue and special operations.
The
H-53 series began with the first flight of a US Marine Corps YCH-53A prototype on
October
14, 1964
,
the first deliveries began in May 1966 to the operation units.
The
MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter was
converted for special operations at night and in adverse weather. The
helicopter has an aerial refuelling probe and is equipped with inertial
navigation system, stabilized FLIR, Doppler navigation equipment, a computer
projected map display and radar in offset thimble fairing on the nose. The MH-53J can carry three 7.62 mm mini guns operated from its door
positions.
On
a night insertion/extraction or combat rescue mission the MH-53J when conducting one third of the mission at altitude below
300 m cruises at 277 km/h and carries special operations personnel, rescue
personnel or equipment weighing up to 3630 kg. The MH-53J can be refuelled in flight or at designated ground waypoints,
or can carry out such a mission to a radius of about 180 km un-refuelled.
| Developing
Nation: |
United
States |
| First
Flight(s): |
October
14th 1964 |
| First
operational: |
May
1966 |
| Crew: |
5 |
| Wing
Span: |
-main
rotor diameter 22,02 m
-tail
rotor diameter 4,88 m |
| Height: |
height
overall 7,60 m |
| Length: |
-length
overall rotors turning 26,90 m
-fuselage
20,47 m |
| Weight
empty: |
empty
10690 kg |
| Weight
Max. Load: |
maximum
take-off 19050 kg |
| Engines: |
two
General Electric T64-GE-7 |
| Max.
Speed: |
315
Kph |
| Max.
Height: |
6220
m |
| Max.
Range: |
868
Kph |
| Weapons: |
MH-53J
Pave Low III
Typically armed with 2 of the 7.62
mm electric mini-guns, one on each side, and 1 x 50 caliber (12.7mm) machine
gun mounted to the tail ramp |
|
Sikorsky
H-53 in action:
|
|
April
1980, Iran,
Navy
RH-53D helicopters
attempted rescue of the American hostages in the US Embassy in Teheran,
Iran
.
|
|
December
20, 1989
Panama
Operation Just Cause,
MH-53J
Pave Low III , dropped US Navy SEAL commandos who assaulted
Panama
City
's
Patilla
Airport
to destroy a Lear Jet which might otherwise have been used by Panamanian
leader Manuel Noriega to escape.
|
|
January
17 - February 28, 1991 Operation Desert Storm,
MH-53J's
provided navigation and support for US Army AH-64A Apaches which attacked
Iraqi radar defence sites during the first hours of the war. During the war
with
Iraq
,
special operations MH-53J's
inserted American and British commandos behind the lines, to hunt on Iraqi
Scud missile sites and rescued a down US Navy F-14 Tomcat pilot.
|
|
March
24 - June 10, 1999 Operation Allied Force
On
March 28, 1999 a crashed F-117A pilot was rescued from the Serbs, by a Search
and Combat Rescue team of the USAF with the Sikorsky MH-53J
Pave Low III helicopter.
|
Research: R.Vogelaar
© Zijde Aviation Photo Publishing, Last
page-update:
21-Aug-2008
|
The
H-53 Pave Low, still widely Known by
its Vietnam-era nickname "Super Jolly" is the USAF's largest and most
powerful helicopter.
The
H-53 is a conventional, long-range
helicopter with twin turbo shaft engines and self lubricating, all-metal main
and tail rotors.
The
helicopter has a flight crew of two pilots and navigator, plus two Para rescue
technicians (PJs) for rescue and special operations.
The
H-53 series began with the first flight of a US Marine Corps YCH-53A prototype on
October
14, 1964
,
the first deliveries began in May 1966 to the operation units.
The
MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter was
converted for special operations at night and in adverse weather. The
helicopter has an aerial refuelling probe and is equipped with inertial
navigation system, stabilized FLIR, Doppler navigation equipment, a computer
projected map display and radar in offset thimble fairing on the nose. The MH-53J can carry three 7.62 mm mini guns operated from its door
positions.
On
a night insertion/extraction or combat rescue mission the MH-53J when conducting one third of the mission at altitude below
300 m cruises at 277 km/h and carries special operations personnel, rescue
personnel or equipment weighing up to 3630 kg. The MH-53J can be refuelled in flight or at designated ground waypoints,
or can carry out such a mission to a radius of about 180 km un-refuelled.
| Developing
Nation: |
United
States |
| First
Flight(s): |
October
14th 1964 |
| First
operational: |
May
1966 |
| Crew: |
5 |
| Wing
Span: |
-main
rotor diameter 22,02 m
-tail
rotor diameter 4,88 m |
| Height: |
height
overall 7,60 m |
| Length: |
-length
overall rotors turning 26,90 m
-fuselage
20,47 m |
| Weight
empty: |
empty
10690 kg |
| Weight
Max. Load: |
maximum
take-off 19050 kg |
| Engines: |
two
General Electric T64-GE-7 |
| Max.
Speed: |
315
Kph |
| Max.
Height: |
6220
m |
| Max.
Range: |
868
Kph |
| Weapons: |
MH-53J
Pave Low III
Typically armed with 2 of the 7.62
mm electric mini-guns, one on each side, and 1 x 50 caliber (12.7mm) machine
gun mounted to the tail ramp |
|
Sikorsky
H-53 in action:
|
|
April
1980, Iran,
Navy
RH-53D helicopters
attempted rescue of the American hostages in the US Embassy in Teheran,
Iran
.
|
|
December
20, 1989
Panama
Operation Just Cause,
MH-53J
Pave Low III , dropped US Navy SEAL commandos who assaulted
Panama
City
's
Patilla
Airport
to destroy a Lear Jet which might otherwise have been used by Panamanian
leader Manuel Noriega to escape.
|
|
January
17 - February 28, 1991 Operation Desert Storm,
MH-53J's
provided navigation and support for US Army AH-64A Apaches which attacked
Iraqi radar defence sites during the first hours of the war. During the war
with
Iraq
,
special operations MH-53J's
inserted American and British commandos behind the lines, to hunt on Iraqi
Scud missile sites and rescued a down US Navy F-14 Tomcat pilot.
|
|
March
24 - June 10, 1999 Operation Allied Force
On
March 28, 1999 a crashed F-117A pilot was rescued from the Serbs, by a Search
and Combat Rescue team of the USAF with the Sikorsky MH-53J
Pave Low III helicopter.
|
Research: R.Vogelaar
© Zijde Aviation Photo Publishing, Last
page-update:
30-Dec-2008
|
