Sikorsky CH-53 Helicopter (question about an accessory part)

https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ch-53-1999416b3guys.jpg ^ | 4/16/18 | rebelbase

[Rebelbase]

Just had one of these fly over the house.

Question. What is the purpose of the tear-dropped accessory protrusion on the side--where the horse head is painted.

Anyone?....

Excerpted just to tweak gunner.

[Larry Lucido]

I think that's a CH-46.

This is a CH-47:

On my budget, all I'll ever be able to afford is a CH-45.

But I'll arm it with a 12-gauge.*

Makes the 11-gauge look like a pop-gun.

[Portcall24]

Was in maintenance hanger one day at Fort Hood and two soldiers were standing on a platform that folds out up near the rotor hub. They were both pulling with all their strength on a six foot torque wrench to tighten the nut that holds the blade on.

[Justa]

Saw CH-46s formation flying in Iraq many times. My base had a beacon on it about 200’ outside where I worked. They’d fly over at less than 100’ than turn to the NW for the leg to Fallujah. They flew like bats outta hell, nose to tail practically. It would take CGI to reproduce that nowadays.

[Spacetrucker]

Fuel tank.

[OldSmaj]

That's a Shithook.

And we called them that in VN because that's all they ever brought us.

The good stuff...Mermite cans full of hot food, beer pallets, medics, ammo, etc, came on the Hueys.

All the Shithooks brought were sandbags (that we had to fill), half-culverts for hooches, everything associated with us working our butts off and MORE cases of C-rats.

And to this day, I still don't see how they fly.

[OldSmaj]

They were both pulling with all their strength on a six foot torque wrench to tighten the nut that holds the blade on.

And if you'll give it some thought, you'll understand why it's called the "Jesus Nut".

[beelzepug]

“On my budget, all I’ll ever be able to afford is a CH-45.”

Buy a CH-54. It will be cheaper ‘cause it ain’t got no body!

[NorthMountain]

And to this day, I still don't see how they fly.

Some say they beat the air into submission.

Some say they're so ugly the Earth repels them.

Some puke up pseudo-scientific nonsense about moving airfoils.

I hold with screaming demons imprisoned in in that part above the ramp.

[Larry Lucido]

Hmmm. Has possibilities...

[Enchante]

cool, thx!

CH-47 can carry pretty good loads, too, up to 12 tons (this Brit CVRT is 8 tons, I believe):

[OldSmaj]

I’m gonna go with number two.

[Always A Marine]

CH-47 can carry pretty good loads, too, up to 12 tons

That's very impressive, but the CH-53E can lift an external load of 33,320 lbs - 16.6 tons - and strip away your shingles and your hearing at the same time. Between friendly helos and hostile artillery, this old infantryman is almost deaf as a door nail!

[Enchante]

nice.....

p.s. I now find that the latest version, the CH47F, can lift 14 tons external load.... still not as much as the latest CH53, but not too shabby, either.

[NorthMountain]

It’s a defensible position. The only one I categorically reject is #3.

[daltec]

The CH-53K (currently in advanced development) will have an airborne max gross weight of 88,000 pounds, vs. about 73,000 for the E model. But in an aircraft of about the same size and weight. Here is a good picture.

"Max gross weight" to mean total combined weight -- the aircraft itself, stores, crew, sling load, the works. F model Chinook is about 50,000 max gross weight. Both are pretty serious aircraft!

Nice image of the Chinook showing its size.

[SaveFerris]

I like my CH-53 for golf outings. Haven’t quite mastered how to park it without attracting attention, yet.

[Robert A Cook PE]

The sponson extends out from the fuselage to carry fuel without getting in the way of internal space and the back katch like others have mentioined, but it is aerodynamically “wing-shaped” to reduce air resistance and provide some lift when flying forward. (adds to resistance when hovering, but the overall effect is a benefit for range and speed.)

The Cobra and other gunship helicopters use their rocket launch winglets the same way: They are primarily for carrying weapons or fuel tanks or IR cameras and bomb-aim lasers ... But their shape acts like wings when traveling forward at flight speed.

[Bookshelf]

And how does it protect itself?

[Enchante]

awesome, thx!!

[Always A Marine]

p.s. I now find that the latest version, the CH47F, can lift 14 tons external load.... still not as much as the latest CH53, but not too shabby, either.

Well, if you're going to cite the latest Chinook version, the Corps' newest CH-53K model lifts 36,000 lbs externally - 18 tons.

This will never end! Both of these 50+ year-old designs will apparently live forever and keep getting stronger.