The new "Beast" of the Marine's CH-53K is becoming alive.

Gestart door Harald, 14/02/2014 | 21:28 uur

Sparkplug

CH-53K's entry into low-rate production delayed eight months

By James Drew, Washington DC | 01 April 2016

The Sikorsky CH-53K's entry into low-rate production has been delayed again, this time by eight months to February 2017, because of gearbox failures last year and the late delivery of parts from suppliers, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports in its annual assessment of Pentagon weapon projects.

The King Stallion development effort achieved first flight last October – "nearly three years later than originally planned" and five years after completing its critical design review.

In January, the second test model began flying at Sikorsky's facility in West Palm Beach, Florida and the GAO report notes that it contains the improved gearbox that was first trialled on a ground test vehicle.

"The unexpected redesigns of the aircraft's various gearboxes, as well as the late delivery of some components, have delayed delivery of the remaining two engineering design model test aircraft," the GAO states in its 31 March report. "This has created delays at the production facility where parts are received from vendors, which is expected to impact the flight test schedule."


Sikorsky

The supersized King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter will replace the US Marine Corps' Sikorsky CH-53E, which was introduced in the 1980s and has anticipated service life of 41 years.

The cost of developing the aircraft has grown by 44% from $4.7 billion to $6.8 billion since 2005 and the procurement estimate for 200 aircraft stands at $19 billion.

The date for completion of operational testing shifted nine months since the GAO's 2015 report, from September 2018 to June 2019.

Despite gearbox troubles and the reported production issues, the Marines still expect to have the first war-ready squadron in place by July 2019..

Sikorsky officials said at a recent press briefing that the CH-53K flight test programme expects to log about 100h in 2016.

The Lockheed Martin-owned helicopter manufacturer expects to complete the second and third flight test aircraft this year, to support performance, propulsion and avionics flight qualification.

US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) reported on 24 March that the King Stallion recently demonstrated its advertised speed of 140kts with 15° angle-of-bank turns.

"This marked the last test flight in direct mode," NAVAIR says. "The primary flight control system work up included 120kts, climbs and descents and hovering pedal turns."

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ch-53ks-entry-into-low-rate-production-delayed-eigh-423779/
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

CH-53K: First Operational Tester Takes The King Stallion For A Ride

US Naval Air Systems Command | March 24, 2016

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. –-- Lt. Col. Foster Carlile took his place in Marine Corps aviation history as the first operational tester to fly the CH-53K helicopter Mar. 23 at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation's Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach.

Carlile, a Naval Test Pilot School graduate, is currently with with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) Twenty-Two in New River, N.C. and has been a CH-53E pilot for 16 years, primarily with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464. He took off at 12:15 p.m. in Engineering Development Model (EDM) 1 to experience the direct mode flight control system, as well as the primary flight control system (PFCS) maneuvers. This marked the last test flight in direct mode, which included hover points and out to 140 knots with 15 degree angle-of-bank turns. The PFCS work up included 120 knots, climbs and descents, and hovering pedal turns.

"What an experience; I've been looking forward to this day for a long time," said Carlile. "I'm honored to have been able to fly the aircraft at such an early stage of the test program. All in all, the aircraft flew very well. I have no doubt the CH-53K will carry on as the work-horse of the fleet Marine force. I was very impressed with the direct mode system. It was much easier to fly than the comparable mode in the CH-53E. The aircraft vibration levels and the feel of the aircraft seemed very similar to the CH-53E."

The flight test ran for one hour, taking EDM1 over the 30-flight hour mark since it first took to the skies on Oct. 27, 2015. The second King Stallion took flight on Jan. 22, 2016, with a third expected to join flight test early this summer.

"The CH-53K is the most powerful helicopter in the Department of Defense and we are making excellent progress with its flight test program," said Col. Hank Vanderborght, Naval Air System Command's program manager for the heavy lift helicopter program (PMA-261). "The program remains on track for initial operational capability in 2019."

The CH-53K is the Marine Corps' new build, heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E, which will transport Marines, heavy equipment and supplies during ship-to-shore movement in support of amphibious assault and subsequent operations ashore. The CH-53K will be one of the key enablers of future joint war-fighting concepts by drastically expanding the fleet's logistical throughput through the joint area of responsibility.

Using proven and matured technologies, the King Stallion is designed to lift a 27,000 pound external load at a mission radius of 110 nautical miles in Navy high/hot environments – three times the CH-53E lift capability. It also features single, dual, and triple external cargo hook capability that will allow for the transfer of three independent external loads to three separate landing zones in support of distributed operations in one single sortie, without having to return to a ship or other logistical hub.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/172561/first-operational-tester-flies-ch_53k-king-stallion.html
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Citaat van: StrataNL op 17/03/2016 | 23:55 uur
Ambitie is sowieso al ver te zoeken, dus hou het beetje ambitie dan wel haalbaar cq realistisch. Als de Duitsers voor CH53's gaan, sluit ik graag aan!

Dat is het hele idee... zo niet, dan ben ik happy met aangepaste Chinooks.

StrataNL

Citaat van: jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter) op 17/03/2016 | 23:51 uur
Zie mijn gehele post....

Ambitie is sowieso al ver te zoeken, dus hou het beetje ambitie dan wel haalbaar cq realistisch. Als de Duitsers voor CH53's gaan, sluit ik graag aan!
-Strata-
Je Maintiendrai! Blog: Krijgsmacht Next-Generation

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Citaat van: StrataNL op 17/03/2016 | 23:40 uur
Zie de argumenten van Lex. Investeer het dan in Chinooks, NH90's of de Cougar vervanger. Van die 8 gaan er x in onderhoud, x voor training, zet weinig zoden aan de dijk.

Zie mijn gehele post....

StrataNL

Citaat van: jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter) op 17/03/2016 | 23:22 uur
Zonder ambitie... is een zweefvliegtuig te veel voor het voorstellingsvermogen.

Zie de argumenten van Lex. Investeer het dan in Chinooks, NH90's of de Cougar vervanger. Van die 8 gaan er x in onderhoud, x voor training, zet weinig zoden aan de dijk.
-Strata-
Je Maintiendrai! Blog: Krijgsmacht Next-Generation

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Citaat van: StrataNL op 17/03/2016 | 22:52 uur
Zucht.

Zonder ambitie... is een zweefvliegtuig te veel voor het voorstellingsvermogen.

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

#63
Citaat van: Lex op 17/03/2016 | 23:01 uur
Alsof NL Defensie een geldboom heeft.  :hrmph:
Naast de vraag of men dit zou willen rijst dan ook de vraag of het aanschaffen van 8 stuks CH-53K met de benodigde logistieke staart en opleidingen goedkoper en efficiënter is dan het aanpassen/ombouwen van een x aantal Chinooks voor maritieme inzet.

Met een BNP van +/- €700.000.000.000,00 in 2016 moet dat niet het grootste probleem zijn, of we het er voor over hebben is een ander verhaal.

Eén miljard+ per jaar (om te beginnen) voor asiel- en gelukszoekers is blijkbaar geen enkel probleem, een politieke keuze die zonder enige vorm van democratisch proces wordt doorgedrukt.... dus geld is er schijnbaar wel.

Je zou, als DE kiest voor de CH-53K, een gezamenlijk traject kunnen voorstellen, maar het aanpassen van een X-aantal Chinooks is natuurlijk ook goede een optie.

Lex

Citaat van: andré herc op 17/03/2016 | 22:38 uur
Bestel  maar een stuk of 8 CH-53K's voor NL Defensie want de CHINOOKS zijn ook niet geschikt voor het opereren vanaf  JSS en LPD's of  ze moeten worden aangepast!
Alsof NL Defensie een geldboom heeft.  :hrmph:
Naast de vraag of men dit zou willen rijst dan ook de vraag of het aanschaffen van 8 stuks CH-53K met de benodigde logistieke staart en opleidingen goedkoper en efficiënter is dan het aanpassen/ombouwen van een x aantal Chinooks voor maritieme inzet.

StrataNL

Citaat van: andré herc op 17/03/2016 | 22:38 uur
Bestel  maar een stuk of 8 CH-53K's voor NL Defensie want de CHINOOKS zijn ook niet geschikt voor het opereren vanaf  JSS en LPD's of  ze moeten worden aangepast!

Zucht.
-Strata-
Je Maintiendrai! Blog: Krijgsmacht Next-Generation

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Citaat van: andré herc op 17/03/2016 | 22:38 uur
Bestel  maar een stuk of 8 CH-53K's voor NL Defensie want de CHINOOKS zijn ook niet geschikt voor het opereren vanaf  JSS en LPD's of  ze moeten worden aangepast!

Voor  ;D

andré herc

Bestel  maar een stuk of 8 CH-53K's voor NL Defensie want de CHINOOKS zijn ook niet geschikt voor het opereren vanaf  JSS en LPD's of  ze moeten worden aangepast!
Den Haag stop met afbreken van NL Defensie, en investeer in een eigen C-17.

Harald

Second CH-53K Helicopter Joins Flight Test Program



WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 14, 2016 – 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."

The first and second CH-53K heavy lift helicopter Engineering Development Models (EDM) achieved their first flights on Oct. 27, 2015, and Jan. 22, 2016, respectively. To date these helicopters have achieved over 35 flight hours combined including multiple flights with an active duty USMC pilot at the controls. As the flight test program proceeds, these two flying CH-53K helicopters will be joined by two additional aircraft to complete flight qualification of the USMC's next generation heavy lift capability over an approximately  three-year flight test program.

These first two aircraft are the most heavily instrumented of the Engineering Development Models (EDM) and will focus on structural flight loads and envelope expansion. When the other two EDM aircraft join the flight line in 2016 they will focus on performance, propulsion and avionics flight qualification.

"It is exciting to have two CH-53K helicopters flying," said Col. Hank Vanderborght, U.S. Marine Corps program manager for Heavy Lift Helicopters. "Our program continues on pace to deploy this incredible heavy lift capability to our warfighters."

Sikorsky is now developing the CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps. The King Stallion maintains similar physical dimensions with a reduced "footprint" compared to its predecessor, the three-engine CH-53E SUPER STALLION helicopter, but will more than triple the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under "high hot" ambient conditions.

Features of the CH-53K helicopter include a modern glass cockpit; fly-by-wire flight controls; fourth-generation rotor blades with anhedral tips; a low maintenance elastomeric rotor head; upgraded engines; a locking, United States Air Force pallet compatible cargo rail system; external cargo handling improvements; survivability enhancements; and improved reliability, maintainability and supportability.

The U.S. Department of Defense's program of record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft. The Marine Corps intends to stand up eight active duty squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron to support operational requirements.

This press release contains forward looking statements concerning opportunities for development, production and sale of helicopters. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in government procurement priorities and practices, budget plans, availability of funding and in the type and number of aircraft required; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in Lockheed Martin Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2016/march/160314-mst-second-sikorsky-ch-53k-helicopter-joins-flight-test-program.html?sf22546464=1

Sparkplug

De CH-53E moet helaas nog door tot voorbij FY2026 volgens Marine Aviation Plan 2016.

Zie pagina 70 t/m 74 in onderstaande link.
https://marinecorpsconceptsandprograms.com/sites/default/files/files/Marine%20Aviation%20Plan%202016%20FINAL.pdf
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Zander

People are sheep