CH-53K 'Super Stallion' Heavy Lift Helicopter

[LurkerBaba]

The Sikorsky team developing the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps has delivered the first prototype aircraft — the Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) — from the assembly line to the flight test team. The move will enable Sikorsky, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), to prepare and test the GTV aircraft for hundreds of hours of powered ground checks ahead of the four follow-on flight test helicopters that will take to the skies during 2014-15.

"The primary purpose of the GTV is to shake out the CH-53K helicopter's dynamic systems by thoroughly testing and measuring the performance of the rotor blades, transmission, and engines while the aircraft is tied to the ground," said Michael Torok, Sikorsky's CH-53K Program Vice President. "Extensive ground-based flight checks with Sikorsky and NAVAIR test pilots at the cockpit controls will confirm whether these dynamic systems, as well as hydraulic, electrical, and avionics systems, can meet the requirements established by the Marines for their next-generation heavy lift helicopter."

Though designed to the same footprint size as the CH-53E Super Stallionâ„¢ helicopters they will begin to replace in 2019, CH-53K helicopters will triple the external load carrying capacity to more than 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under "high hot" ambient conditions. Technology enablers for increased lift include 7,500-shaft-horsepower GE38-1B engines; a split torque transmission design that more efficiently distributes engine power to the main rotors; fourth-generation composite rotor blades for enhanced lift; and a composite airframe structure.

Flight test engineers will spend the coming months performing preliminary acceptance tests that include calibrating the GTV's fuel system and attaching measuring devices at more than 1,300 test locations on the aircraft to record temperature, aerodynamic loads, pressure and vibrations. By mid 2013, the GTV will be attached to a specially built outdoor platform to hold the aircraft in place when its three engines are powered on — a process known as a "light-off." Initial light-off test events will be performed without rotor blades, followed by more rigorous tests with the blades attached.

"This is an important point of transition for the CH-53K program," said Col. Robert Pridgen, program manager for the heavy lift helicopters. "I am encouraged by the initial results of our testing at the component and subsystem level. Now we bring it all together. The GTV is our first dynamic system-level integration of those same components. We are looking forward to the sights and sounds these next heavy lifters will bring to the Marine Corps."

Sikorsky Delivers First CH-53K Prototype Heavy Lift Helicopter to Flight Test Team

@Rikbo88

 

[SpArK]

 

[asianobserve]

CH-53 Static Test Fuselage

 

[cobra commando]

Sikorsky Begins Powered
Ground Tests of CH-53K
Helicopter with Rotor Blades

May 01, 2014

Stratford, Connecticut - Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), has begun full system testing of the U.S. Marine Corps' CH-53K heavy lift helicopter with all seven main rotor blades and four tail rotor blades attached for the first time to a non-flying prototype called the Ground Test Vehicle (GTV). Powered "Light- Off" with rotor blades spinning follows a "Bare Head" (without blades) test phase of the GTV aircraft's systems powered by its three GE 7,500 horsepower class engines, and begins a rigorous two-year test program of the rotor blades, transmission, engines, and all subsystems while the GTV is anchored to the ground. "This is another key milestone in our building block approach to maturing the aircraft system," said Mike Torok, Sikorsky's CH-53K Program vice president, of the April 17 event. "The aircraft is now fully configured to proceed to the next series of system integration tests that will further validate the aircraft systems, such as rotors, drive, electrical, hydraulic, avionics and flight controls – all leading to operational acceptance testing that will clear the flight aircraft for flight operations. The preliminary results maintain our confidence in meeting first flight of the initial flight test helicopter in late 2014." The GTV will play a key role for Sikorsky and the U.S. Marine Corps during hundreds of hours of powered ground tests as the CH-53K team prepares for first flight and the subsequent three- year flight test program.


Read more here:
Sikorsky Begins Powered Ground Tests of CH-53K Helicopter with Rotor Blades

 

[cobra commando]

Sikorsky Unveils CH-53K
Helicopter; U.S. Marine Corps
Reveals Aircraft Name

Sikorsky Unveils CH-53K Helicopter; U.S. Marine Corps Reveals Aircraft Name

 

[Blackwater]

Is it better than mi-17 v5??

 

[Twinblade]

Is it better than mi-17 v5??

Mi-26 would be a better comparison.

 

[Blackwater]

Mi-26 would be a better comparison.

No way mi-26 is white elephant, too much maintenance issue and operating cost.

from ur answer it seems this is bigger than V5 but what about chinook vs CH-53??

 

[Twinblade]

No way mi-26 is white elephant, too much maintenance issue and operating cost.

from ur answer it seems this is bigger than V5 but what about chinook vs CH-53??

Bigger than Chinook, smaller than Mi-26.

 

[arnabmit]

Empty Weight:
CH-47F = 10,185 kg
CH-53K = 15,071 kg
Mi-26 = 28,200 kg

MTOW:
CH-47F = 22,680 kg
CH-53K = 38,400 kg
Mi-26 = 56,000 kg

Payload:
CH-47F = 12,700 kg
CH-53K = 15,900 kg
Mi-26 = 20,000 kg

Is it better than mi-17 v5??

Mi-26 would be a better comparison.

No way mi-26 is white elephant, too much maintenance issue and operating cost.

from ur answer it seems this is bigger than V5 but what about chinook vs CH-53??

Bigger than Chinook, smaller than Mi-26.

 

[Blackwater]

Empty Weight:
CH-47F = 10,185 kg
CH-53K = 15,071 kg
Mi-26 = 28,200 kg

MTOW:
CH-47F = 22,680 kg
CH-53K = 38,400 kg
Mi-26 = 56,000 kg

Payload:
CH-47F = 12,700 kg
CH-53K = 15,900 kg
Mi-26 = 20,000 kg

Wat about spares and maintenance and operating cost?

 

[cobra commando]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uhWvA88qfXc
The 88,000-pound maximum gross weight King Stallion helicopter features powerful new engines, lightweight composite structures, new rotor blades and fly-by-wire flight controls — allowing the Marines to move troops and equipment from ship to shore, and to higher altitude terrain, more quickly and effectively than with the CH-53E heavy lifter.

 

[arnabmit]

That comes after capability. If you need 20tons airlifted by a helo, no matter what the spares, maintenance and operating cost, you will go for a Mi-26

Wat about spares and maintenance and operating cost?

 

[cobra commando]

Marine Corps Prepares New CH-53K for First Flight

 

[cobra commando]

CH-53K Helicopter Achieves First Flight

 

[cobra commando]

Second CH-53K Helicopter Joins Flight Test Program

 

[guru-dutt]

Empty Weight:
CH-47F = 10,185 kg
CH-53K = 15,071 kg
Mi-26 = 28,200 kg

MTOW:
CH-47F = 22,680 kg
CH-53K = 38,400 kg
Mi-26 = 56,000 kg

Payload:
CH-47F = 12,700 kg
CH-53K = 15,900 kg
Mi-26 = 20,000 kg

now thats nice CH-53K is almost half the weight of Mi26 but carries only 20% less cargo looks pretty impressive do you sir have any comparision in how much feul MI -26 uses and how much does CH-53K uses to cover the same distance (feul economy)and do please if possible also add specs like above for Mi-17V5 to make me understand ... thanks in advance

 

[garg_bharat]

Mi-26 is outdated Soviet era helicopter. Why is it being compared with modern new generation American helicopters?

RT says that a new model Mi-26T2 has 25 ton lifting capacity.

I agree that Americans have better helicopters, but quite high initial prices.
Operating cost must include capital cost too, not only fuel and maintenance.

A very simple way is to assume 20 years operating life, and divide capital cost in 20 parts, so 5% per year.

I am sure that Russian helicopters are cheaper when you count the capital cost.

 

[garg_bharat]

All rotorcraft have lower availability rates compared to fixed wings, and higher crash rates. This is just the nature of the beast.

India did not use Mi-26 much and probably did not maintain them properly as well. This happened with a lot of 80s purchases which fell into disuse for years due to lack of money, and problems in USSR.

It is OK to buy a few heavy lift helicopters from USA, as such may be needed in emplacement of guns on mountains or carrying other kind of heavy equipment. But this thread need not become a false comparison with Russian products.