The latest Florida-depending Valiant Heavens Command Museum enjoys additional the new You.S. Navy’s big MH-53E Sea Dragon to help you its range.
Towards October 16, Chopper Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 12 embarked for the a critical mission to help you Titusville, Florida, to provide an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter to the Federal Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM). Which iconic 100 dollar personal loan bad credit aircraft will today get on loan towards the Valiant Sky Command (VAC), enriching this new aviation museum’s range.
We’re thrilled to understand the Airborne Exploit Countermeasures (AMCM) society illustrated contained in this art gallery, said HM-12 Commanding Manager Capt. Eric Johnson. For many, AMCM is a good lifelong job. You will find recommended all of our HM-several Sailors to Become Legacy’-a note so you can prize the foundation applied by those before us on the mine countermeasures community and also the Navy.
The sea Dragon, today located at VAC Warbird Sky Art gallery, will continue to be to your long lasting loan of NNAM. Slope Goodspeed, NNAM’s deputy movie director, highlighted the importance of collaboration with mate museums so you can expand the brand new started to from naval aviation history. The fresh new Federal Naval Aviation Museum’s founding purpose during the 1962 were to find, gather, manage, and you may display’ artifacts you to definitely show Naval Aviation’s storied earlier in the day, said Goodspeed. This new induction ceremony famous new steeped history of your own MH-53E Sea Dragon and you can honored the fresh new sacrifices of these that supported. Col. Kate Fleeger, System Director towards the H-53 Big Elevator Helicopters Program Place of work (PMA-261), highlighted the sea Dragon’s vital part.
For nearly forty years, the MH-53 might have been a good Navy workhorse on Airborne Exploit Countermeasures purpose, Fleeger said. Beyond their AMCM duties, the sea Dragon provides served hefty-lift operations, produced send and you will offers on the Persian Gulf coast of florida, assisted in the disaster recovery, and even battled fires playing with liquids stores bladders-Bambi Buckets.
Chopper Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) several embarked on a serious goal so you’re able to Titusville, Florida, October. sixteen, in which it commercially shown a keen MH-53E Water Dragon helicopter for the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM), and is for the mortgage so you can Valiant Sky Order from inside the Titusville. Attendees spoke into pilots and aircrew following the MH-53E arrived at the brand new art gallery. Photographs of the Jennifer Cragg
Valiant Air Order Embraces MH-53E Water Dragon Helicopter
Just like the its beginning inside 1977, the fresh Warbird Sky Art gallery during the Titusville is continuing to grow courtesy aviation fans, veterans, and you will pilots intent on preserving America’s aviation records. The coming of one’s MH-53E marks a historic second, since it is the initial-and maybe just-Water Dragon to get shown within the a museum mode. Regardless of if twenty eight MH-53E helicopters stay static in solution, brand new collection is scheduled to begin with phasing out in 2025, with full old-age expected because of the 2027. Capt. Johnson mirrored to your aircraft’s history. It’s an unbelievable server in order to fly, and it’s far more amazing to see the entire squadron already been to each other to make this happen, told you Johnson. The sea Dragon might have been an important equipment to have tactical logistics and you may a strategic deterrent, guaranteeing distribution lanes will still be clear of ocean mines.
Because the introduction inside 1986, this new MH-53E Water Dragon could have been pivotal both in mine countermeasures and you may heavy-elevator functions. Clothed having state-of-the-art technical, together with mine-browse sonar and you can detonation gizmos, the ocean Dragon keeps shielded naval fleets while also transporting troops and gadgets. The sea Dragon is a beneficial center of attention at Warbird Museum, intent on sustaining aviation record getting future generations. Bonnie Towne, NNAM’s section from get in touch with, starred a button part into the facilitating which historical import. DRAGON 437 (BuNo 163066), just after serving for almost forty years that have Chopper Exploit Countermeasures Squadron 12 could well be ready to end up being shown in the Valiant Sky Command Warbird Art gallery early the following year.
The ocean Dragon, nicknamed Joanna did a beneficial flyby the newest Kennedy Area Heart. Pictures via Valiant Sky Demand Warbird Museum/ Rob Shaw