New Super Stallions for Pegasus

Photo By Cpl. James Sauter | Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 Detachment Bravo unload the first of two CH-53E Super Stallions off the Russian An-124 cargo plane at Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Sept 7. “HMH 463 Detachment Bravo was established to lay the foundation here for the arrival of the CH-53Es,” Lt. Col. Jeffrey L. Davis, officer in charge, Detachment Bravo, said. “I have a total of 79 Marines here that will be working on helicopters when they arrive.” After the Super Stallions were moved into the hangar for the initial inspection, the Marines of the squadron began to reassemble the aircraft for operations. The entire process could take a few days to a few weeks. Two additional CH-53Es are scheduled to arrive Sept 10.  

KANEOHE, HI, UNITED STATES

09.07.2011

Story by Pfc. James Sauter 

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay - Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 “Pegasus” welcomed the new arrival of two CH-53E Super Stallions at Hanger 102 at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay Sept. 7.

Two more Super Stallions will join the other arrivals Sept. 10 marking the first four of 12 Super Stallions replacing the squadron’s CH-53D Sea Stallions.

“HMH-463, Detachment Bravo was established to lay the foundation here for the arrival of the CH-53Es,” Lt. Col. Jeffrey L. Davis, officer in charge, Detachment Bravo, said. “I have a total of 79 Marines here who will be working on the helicopters after they arrive.”

The first two Super Stallions were flown in from Marine Corps Air Station Cherrypoint, N.C., by a Russian An-124 cargo plane, the second largest cargo aircraft in the world behind its sister plane, the An-225. The aircraft has a 25 percent larger payload than the U.S. Air Force’s C5 Galaxy cargo plane. The disassembled helicopters were unloaded and guided to the hanger for initial inspection.

“After the aircraft are flown in, we do an inspection of every system,” Sgt. Jerrid M. Mangham, CH-53E mechanic, HMH-463, said. “Everything on board is inspected, down to the last bolt, to make sure everything is accounted for.”

The military began development of the Super Stallions in 1981 and the Marine Corps has a total of 152 Super Stallions around the world in service today. The main difference between the Super and Sea Stallions is the load capacity of each aircraft. The Super Stallion’s load capacity is nearly 74,000 pounds, twice as much as the Sea Stallion, due to an additional third engine.

“The Super Stallions have done marvelous work for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom,” Davis said. “When we’re hitting the initial assault, we need that robust heavy lift especially when moving Marines and logistics around.”

After the Super Stallions were moved into the hanger for the initial inspection of the aircraft, the Marines of the squadron began to reassemble the aircraft for operations. The entire process could take a few days to a few weeks.

“Everything during the inspection has to be perfect,” Mangham said. “ But I’m really excited for these birds to come in and it’s exciting for everyone here since we’re getting new helicopters.”
HMH-463 is the only squadron on base to transfer to the CH-53Es and the last heavy helicopter squadron in the Marine Corps to receive them. Pegasus is also the first squadron here to be outfitted with new aircraft, while the other two squadrons of Marine Aircraft Group 24 will receive new ones in the future as the CH-53Ds are phased away.

“This transition is truly a historical event, being the first CH-53A squadron and now the last CH-53E,” Davis said. “This speaks volumes of what Pegasus has done for the Marine Corps. We’re preparing ourselves to answer the call of the nation and be the heavy lift support of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.”

• Date Taken: 09.07.2011
• Date Posted: 09.07.2011 21:55
• Story ID: 76610
• Location: KANEOHE, HI, US