Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company (NYSE:LMT), today announced the second CH-53K helicopter has joined the flight test program and achieved first flight. In addition the first aircraft into the test program has achieved flight envelope expansion to 120 knots for the U.S. Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter program.
"Adding a second aircraft into flight status signifies another milestone for the CH-53K program," said Mike Torok, Sikorsky's vice president of CH-53K Programs. "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."
One of the most important aircraft programs in the DoD has been quietly chugging along with relatively little drama, unlike programs like the F-35.
The CH-53K is a HUGE helicopter, designed to replace the CH-53E that entered service in the early 1980s, and is reaching the end of its service life.
Externally, the K is very similar to the E, though its fuselage is considerably wider, to allow it to carry a HUMVEE internally.
In reality, it is almost an entirely new design. The layout of the airframe is similar, but with new engines, transmission, rotors, cockpit and avionics, virtually everything is different than the predecessor.
The first flight of the K was delayed by almost a year for a major redesign of the transmission, and that remains a cause for concern, but otherwise the program has been without any major disruptions or disappointments.
XBradTC 
Leave a comment