Valiant Heavens Order Embraces MH-53E Ocean Dragon Chopper

The Fl-centered Valiant Heavens Demand Art gallery possess added this new You.S. Navy’s massive MH-53E Ocean Dragon in order to its range.

For the October sixteen, Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 12 embarked to your a critical mission to Titusville, Fl, to provide an enthusiastic MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter into Federal Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM). This iconic aircraft will now be on financing on the Valiant Sky Demand (VAC), enriching the latest aviation museum’s range.

The audience is pleased to understand the Airborne Exploit Countermeasures (AMCM) area represented in this museum, told you HM-twelve Commanding Administrator Capt. Eric Johnson. For most, AMCM is actually good lifelong profession. I’ve advised the HM-a dozen Sailors so you’re able to End up being the Legacy’-a reminder so you’re able to award the foundation put because of the those people prior to all of us in the mine countermeasures area and Navy.

The sea Dragon, now housed at VAC Warbird Heavens Art gallery, will remain on the permanent financing regarding NNAM. Mountain Goodspeed, NNAM’s deputy movie director, emphasized the necessity of cooperation that have companion galleries so you’re able to broaden brand new come to from naval aviation record. This new Federal Naval Aviation Museum’s beginning goal from inside the 1962 would be to select, collect, keep, and display’ items one to show Naval Aviation’s storied prior, told you Goodspeed. This new induction ceremony prominent the newest rich history of your own MH-53E Water Dragon and you can recognized the fresh new sacrifices of those with offered. Col. Kate Fleeger, Program Manager to your H-53 Heavier Lift Helicopters Program Place of work (PMA-261), emphasized the ocean Dragon’s important part.

For pretty much 40 years, the fresh new MH-53 has been a beneficial Navy workhorse in personal loan no early repayment fee the Airborne Mine Countermeasures purpose, Fleeger said. Beyond its AMCM obligations, the ocean Dragon possess supported heavier-elevator procedures, put post and you can supplies from the Persian Gulf of mexico, assisted in crisis relief, as well as battled fires using water shops bladders-Bambi Buckets.

Chopper Exploit Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 12 embarked toward a significant objective so you can Titusville, Fl, Oct. 16, in which it officially displayed a keen MH-53E Ocean Dragon helicopter into National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM), in fact it is on the financing so you can Valiant Heavens Command in Titusville. Attendees talked into the pilots and you may aircrew adopting the MH-53E arrived at brand new art gallery. Photos by the Jennifer Cragg

Valiant Heavens Demand Welcomes MH-53E Sea Dragon Helicopter

Because the its beginning for the 1977, the brand new Warbird Sky Museum in Titusville is continuing to grow courtesy aviation followers, pros, and pilots intent on preserving America’s aviation records. The brand new arrival of your MH-53E marks a historical minute, as it is the initial-and perhaps just-Water Dragon to be displayed in a museum function. Even when twenty-eight MH-53E helicopters stay static in service, the collection is placed to begin phasing out in 2025, having full advancing years asked from the 2027. Capt. Johnson reflected towards the aircraft’s heritage. Its an amazing host to travel, and it’s alot more amazing observe the entire squadron come to each other to do this, said Johnson. The ocean Dragon might have been a significant product to have tactical strategies and you will a strategic discouraging factor, guaranteeing delivery lanes are nevertheless clear of ocean mines.

While the its introduction inside the 1986, the new MH-53E Sea Dragon has been pivotal in both mine countermeasures and you can heavy-lift businesses. Dressed which have complex technical, and additionally exploit-hunting sonar and you will detonation gizmos, the ocean Dragon enjoys covered naval fleets whilst moving troops and devices. The sea Dragon was good center point within Warbird Museum, serious about retaining aviation history getting generations to come. Bonnie Towne, NNAM’s area away from contact, starred a switch role within the assisting this historic import. DRAGON 437 (BuNo 163066), shortly after serving for pretty much forty years which have Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron A dozen will be willing to become presented on Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum early next year.

The sea Dragon, nicknamed Joanna performed good flyby the Kennedy Space Heart. Photos through Valiant Air Demand Warbird Art gallery/ Rob Shaw