This Looks Like Something Out of a Marvel Comics Movie

After A Year Of Delays, Sikorsky's CH-53K King Stallion Flies For The First Time

The huge, triple-turbine engine, 22,500hp chopper’s first flight has been delayed since 2014 due to technical issues, mainly with the helicopter’s main gearbox. These have since been solved with the Marine Corps eagerly awaited their new helicopter’s test flight phase.

The CH-53K is set to replace the USMC’s aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet of heavy helicopter transports, offering significant improvements across its predecessor’s entire performance envelope. You can read all about the King Stallion program here.

From one of the local engineers:

Crew: 5: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief/right gunner, 1 left gunner, 1 tail gunner (combat crew)
Capacity: 37 troops (55 with centerline seats installed)
Payload: * 35,000 lb (15,900 kg)
Length: 99 ft 1/2 in (30.2 m)
Rotor diameter: 79 ft (24 m)
Height: 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)
Disc area: 4,900 ft² (460 m²)
Empty weight: 33,226 lb (15,071 kg)
Loaded weight: 74,000 lb (33,600 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: * 84,700 lb (38,400 kg)
Powerplant: 3 × *General Electric GE38-1B turboshaft, * 7,500 shp (5,600 kW) each
Rotor systems: 7 blades on main rotor (each 35' x 35"), 4 blades on tail rotor
Performance

Cruise speed: * 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h)
Range: * 460 nmi (852 km) no reserves
Combat radius: * 110 nmi (126 mi, 204 km)
Service ceiling: * 14,400 ft (4,380 m)
Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)
Armament

Guns:
2 window-mounted .50 BMG (12.7 mm) M3M/GAU-21 machine guns
1 ramp-mounted .50 BMG (12.7 mm) M3M/GAU-21 machine gun
Other: Chaff and flare dispensers