King Stallion succesfully completes second sea trial
In February 2023, USMC's Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 Blackjack ('HX') based at NAS Patuxent River/Trapnell Field (MD) succesfully completed five full days and nights of envelope expansion testing at sea in the Atlantic.
The latest sea trials abord the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) combined a series of test. These tests included launch and recovery, rotor start and shutdown, blade fold and shipboard compatibility testing – all in increasing wind speed and varying wind directions relative to the helicopter.
The test team consisted of personnel from HX-21, H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Programme Office (PMA-261), Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 Iron Horses ('CJ-xxx'), Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 Mihi Cura Futuri ('MV-00x'), and Sikorsky pilots, engineers, technicians and maintainers. The joint team overcame numerous challenges, such as tumultuous seas.
According to the Scramble database, HX-21 has the following Engineering Development Model (EDM) YCH-53K King Stallions on strength:
The USMC continues to execute its transition from the CH-53E to the CH-53K and is on schedule to declare Full Operational Capability (FOC) in FY2029.
Photo by US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino