Sikorsky NCH-53A Sea Stallion
As the 1960s dawned, the US Marine Corps needed a replacement for the Sikorsky HR2S (CH-37) Mojave that served as the USMC's primary heavy-lift helicopter. In 1962, the USMC issued a requirement for a new helicopter with a range of 120 miles and a capacity of 8000 pounds. Sikorsky responded with an expanded version of their S-61/CH-3, and fought off stiff competition from Boeing Vertol's CH-47 Chinook to win the contract. Named the S-65 by Sikorsky, the USMC named it the CH-53A Sea Stallion. The first entered service in 1966.
Though perhaps better known for its service with the USAF as the HH/MH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant," the CH-53 has actually enjoyed much longer service with the USMC. Marine CH-53As were first deployed to Vietnam in 1967, where they took over heavy lift duties from Marine CH-46s and supplemented the Army's CH-54 Tarhes. Problems with operating in tropical "hot and high" climate led to the creation of the CH-53D with uprated engines. The D model was also adopted for the executive transport role as the VH-53D and as an aerial minesweeper for the Navy, the slightly different RH-53D Seadragon. (Navy RH-53Ds were also used on the disastrous Operation Eagle Claw, the attempted rescue of the Iranian Embassy hostages in Tehran in 1980, as Iran already operated RH-53Ds acquired during the Shah's regime.)
Despite the CH-53D's impressive lift power, the Marines needed still more, and so Sikorsky responded with the CH-53E, with a third engine. The D models were gradually retired, with the last leaving service in 2012; E models remain the Marines' principal heavy transport helicopter, though they themselves are being replaced by new-build CH-53K King Stallions and MV-22 Ospreys. D variants are in service with Germany as the CH-53G (significantly upgraded over time) and Israel as the CH-53 Yas'ur (Petrel, also significantly upgraded).
This Sea Stallion is unique. BuNo 153299 was built as a CH-53A in 1966, but not delivered to HMH-461 ("Sea Stallions") at MCAS New River, North Carolina, until 1969; in the meantime, it flew with the Naval Air Test Center at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. It would divide its time between HMH-461 and HMH-361 ("Flying Tigers") at New River until 1971, when it was sent to a Marine Reserve detachment at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
In 1975, 153299 was bailed to NASA as a testbed, and was redesignated NCH-53A. It would remain with NASA until 1981, operating out of Atlantic City, New Jersey; after 1981, it was operated by the Naval Air Development Center (NADC), back at Willow Grove. It was retired in 1988, though records are unclear as to why or if it was actually retired. 153299 sat forgotten in the old blimp hangar at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey until 1999, when it was donated to the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, Kansas.
Today, 153299 is on permanent display, and has been well taken care of by the CAM. The overall glossy engine gray scheme was used for Navy test helicopters into the 1990s. It carries no unit markings.
Sikorsky NCH-53A Sea Stallion
As the 1960s dawned, the US Marine Corps needed a replacement for the Sikorsky HR2S (CH-37) Mojave that served as the USMC's primary heavy-lift helicopter. In 1962, the USMC issued a requirement for a new helicopter with a range of 120 miles and a capacity of 8000 pounds. Sikorsky responded with an expanded version of their S-61/CH-3, and fought off stiff competition from Boeing Vertol's CH-47 Chinook to win the contract. Named the S-65 by Sikorsky, the USMC named it the CH-53A Sea Stallion. The first entered service in 1966.
Though perhaps better known for its service with the USAF as the HH/MH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant," the CH-53 has actually enjoyed much longer service with the USMC. Marine CH-53As were first deployed to Vietnam in 1967, where they took over heavy lift duties from Marine CH-46s and supplemented the Army's CH-54 Tarhes. Problems with operating in tropical "hot and high" climate led to the creation of the CH-53D with uprated engines. The D model was also adopted for the executive transport role as the VH-53D and as an aerial minesweeper for the Navy, the slightly different RH-53D Seadragon. (Navy RH-53Ds were also used on the disastrous Operation Eagle Claw, the attempted rescue of the Iranian Embassy hostages in Tehran in 1980, as Iran already operated RH-53Ds acquired during the Shah's regime.)
Despite the CH-53D's impressive lift power, the Marines needed still more, and so Sikorsky responded with the CH-53E, with a third engine. The D models were gradually retired, with the last leaving service in 2012; E models remain the Marines' principal heavy transport helicopter, though they themselves are being replaced by new-build CH-53K King Stallions and MV-22 Ospreys. D variants are in service with Germany as the CH-53G (significantly upgraded over time) and Israel as the CH-53 Yas'ur (Petrel, also significantly upgraded).
This Sea Stallion is unique. BuNo 153299 was built as a CH-53A in 1966, but not delivered to HMH-461 ("Sea Stallions") at MCAS New River, North Carolina, until 1969; in the meantime, it flew with the Naval Air Test Center at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. It would divide its time between HMH-461 and HMH-361 ("Flying Tigers") at New River until 1971, when it was sent to a Marine Reserve detachment at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
In 1975, 153299 was bailed to NASA as a testbed, and was redesignated NCH-53A. It would remain with NASA until 1981, operating out of Atlantic City, New Jersey; after 1981, it was operated by the Naval Air Development Center (NADC), back at Willow Grove. It was retired in 1988, though records are unclear as to why or if it was actually retired. 153299 sat forgotten in the old blimp hangar at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey until 1999, when it was donated to the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, Kansas.
Today, 153299 is on permanent display, and has been well taken care of by the CAM. The overall glossy engine gray scheme was used for Navy test helicopters into the 1990s. It carries no unit markings.