THE US Navy revealed on April 5 that the USMC's new heavy-lift transport helicopter, the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, successfully completed another sea trial while operating aboard the landing platform dock USS Arlington (LPD-24) in the Atlantic Ocean in February. This second sea trial comprised five full days and nights of envelope expansion testing while at sea and involved approximately 105 personnel from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 21 (HX-21) 'Blackjack', Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) 'Ironhorse', Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1) and the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office, along with pilots and ground crew from Sikorsky. The CH-53K performed a variety of tests for the trial, including launch and recovery, rotor start and shutdown, blade fold and shipboard compatibility testing - all in increasing windspeed and varying wind directions relative to the helicopter.
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