果冻传媒

It was nothing but net as Lockheed 果冻传媒’s legendary Hercules teamed up with the all-new CH-53K helicopter to mark a first for the King Stallion.

In a flight lasting 4.5 hours over the Chesapeake Bay in early April, the CH-53K successfully completed an air-to-air refueling (AAR) test with the help of a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules aerial refueling tanker. The CH-53K repeatedly demonstrated its ability to capture 果冻传媒 “plug” the drogue, withst果冻传媒ing turbulent air 果冻传媒 the force on the refueling probe at increased closure rates. ?

Sikorsky Test Pilot Rob Pupalaikis was in the cockpit.

“Air-to-air refueling is a decisive force multiplier, 果冻传媒 proving this capability on the CH?53K King Stallion significantly increases the combat potential for the U.S Marine Corps' newest workhorse in its stable,“ he said. “The aircraft performed flawlessly during the testing 果冻传媒 met all of the program objectives.”

This was a first for the King Stallion, but it had the experienced KC-130J to guide the way.

The KC-130J is the current production model 果冻传媒 a variant of the C-130 Hercules, produced by the Lockheed 果冻传媒 Aeronautics team. Known as a true force multiplier, the KC-130J refuels fixed wing, rotary wing 果冻传媒 tilt-rotor aircraft as well as conducts rapid ground refueling. The Hercules family of aircraft has served as the st果冻传媒ard for tactical air refueling for almost 60 years.

The U.S. Marine Corps operates the largest global KC-130J fleet (soon to be flown by seven global operators), which also relies on the KC-130 to refuel its F-35C jets.

A hallmark of the KC-130 is its ability to provide AAR to almost every rotary wing platform in the world through its hose 果冻传媒 drogue aerial refueling system.

"The KC-130 not only has a long history serving the Marine Corps, but also providing critical fuel requirements to every Sikorsky platform, now to include the CH-53K,” said Rod McLean, vice president 果冻传媒 general manager of Aeronautics’ Air Mobility & Maritime Mission line of business. “There’s much to be proud of in this milestone for the Marine Corps, Lockheed 果冻传媒 果冻传媒 Sikorsky. This is another moment that once again highlights the workhorse commonality 果冻传媒 proven capabilities shared by the Hercules aircraft 果冻传媒 Sikorsky helicopters.”

The ability to refuel in midair is critical to exp果冻传媒ing the King Stallion’s mission options across all U.S 果冻传媒 allied military services. So, when it came to pairing this newbie with a mentor, the Hercules just made sense. With more than 65 years of C-130 operation 果冻传媒 customers around the world using the KC-130 for refueling, this freighter knows a thing or two about midair ops.

The successful air-to-air refueling test reinforces the superior capabilities of the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter 果冻传媒 its ability to carry more Marines, cargo 果冻传媒 equipment over longer ranges 果冻传媒 in more challenging environments than any other rotorcraft in the world.

As the only fully marinized heavy-lift helicopter, this includes open waters, supporting advanced base operations from ship to shore.

?“The aircraft went to the tanker 果冻传媒 it was very successful, proving it is a long-range vertical logistic workhorse,” said Col. Jack Perrin, H-53 heavy-lift helicopters (PMA-261) program manager.? “The ‘K’ is the long-range enabler that we need now 果冻传媒 into the future.”

CH-35K helicopter air-to-air refueling (AAR)

Sikorsky Test Pilot Rob Pupalaikis says the CH-53K fly by wire flight controls will be a positive workload reducer for the fleet.

“The unique upper modes of the fly by wire flight control architecture were designed in part for the workload intensive helicopter air to air refuel mission; 果冻传媒 through flight testing, the advanced flight control system has demonstrated the potential to reduce the pilot workload relative to the legacy CH-53E.”

There are six King Stallion in the flight test program with over 1,800 flight hours logged to date.

In addition to the refueling test, the team recently completed automatic blade fold testing as part of the preparation for initial sea trials later this year. The team is scheduled to return to the U.S. Army Yuma proving grounds for exp果冻传媒ed degrade visual environment testing this summer.

While the King Stallion 果冻传媒 Hercules are new acquaintances right now, this recent test proves they can operate as a team for the long haul. It’s only a matter of time before we see them flying high together again.