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To: pabianice

I feel like we never made enough of the Jolly Green Giants in the first place.


2 posted on 08/12/2005 8:38:06 AM PDT by oyez (¡Qué viva la revolución de Reagan!)
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To: oyez

Not to be a nit-picker, but the Jolly Green Giant was the HH-3, a version of the Sikorsky H-3. Another version is the VH-3D "White Tops" flown as Presidential transport by the Marines of HMX-1. The HH-3 had a gross weight of about 22,000 lbs and 5 main rotor blades.

The Air Force called the CH-53A & C the "Super Jolly Green Giant". The Marines & Navy called the CH-53A & D "Sea Stallion". The CH-53D had a gross weight of 42,000 to 48,000 lbs, had two engines of about 4,000 HP each, 6 blades on the 72 foot diameter main rotor and a 16 foot diameter tailrotor.

The H-53s mentioned in this article appear to be the CH-53Es. The "Super Stallion" has three 4,380 HP engines, 7 blades in the 79 foot diameter main rotor, and a 20 foot diameter tail rotor. Max gross weight with internal loads is 69,750 lb. External max gross (sling loads) is 73,500 lb.

Max speed on all CH-53s is 170 kts, close to 200 mph. Though not approved flight maneuvers, the CH-53 has done loops, barrel rolls, aileron rolls and split-S maneuvers.

I've seen a great photo of two CH-53Es, each carrying a USMC LAV-25 (24,100 lbs) on a sling while they are aerial refueling from a C-130 Hercules.

The first CH-53s came into service in the mid 1960's. I flew CH-53D 1974-78. The CH-53E's came into service soon after that. Awesome aircraft!


12 posted on 08/12/2005 9:22:10 AM PDT by BwanaNdege ("To soar is heavenly; to hover divine!")
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