Second CH-53K joins test programme
Sikorsky’s second CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter has joined the flight test programme and completed its first flight, it was announced on 14 March.
The test programme's first aircraft undertook its first flight in October 2015, kicking off the three-year test programme to complete flight qualification of the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) next-generation heavy lift capability. The aircraft has gone on to achieve flight envelope expansion to 120 knots.
The first two Engineering Development Model (EDM) aircraft will focus on structural flight loads and envelope expansion. Another two EDM aircraft will join the flight line in 2016 and will focus on propulsion, performance and avionics flight qualification.
Compared to its predecessor, the CH-53E Super Stallion, the King Stallion maintains similar physical dimensions but will more than triple the payload to 27,000lbs over 110 nautical miles under 'high hot' ambient conditions. The CH-53K also offers survivability enhancements; external cargo handling improvements; a locking, US Air Force pallet compatible cargo rail system; fly-by-wire flight controls; glass cockpit; and fourth-generation rotor blades with anhedral tips.
Mike Torok, vice president, CH-53K programs, Sikorsky, said: ‘With both aircraft in flight test, our flight envelope expansion efforts will accelerate as we continue to make good progress toward our initial operational test assessment and full aircraft system qualification.’
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