This is the Navy's Largest Helicopter | MH-53 Sea Dragon
I was invited by the U.S. Navy to spend a day with the squadron that flies one of the largest military helicopters in the world. Weighing over 40,000 pounds and spanning 100 feet in length, this thing is truly the King of the Sky. I hope you all are ready to strap in for an up-close look at the MH-53 Sea Dragon.
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Big thanks to @Swayne Martin for helping film! You can check out his channel here:
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For More Information on HM-15, visit their Facebook Page here: rb.gy/c07ms0
Special thanks to LT Antonio More and AWS1 Brad Caldbeck for the B-Roll:
photo01aviation.smugmug.com
And lastly, the Skipper, CDR Andrea M. Ragusa! Big shoutout to her.
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Views expressed in this video are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Air Force or Department of Defense.
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Hope you guys enjoyed the video! So I have to ask... which Navy aircraft would you want to ride in the most?
C-2 Greyhound or the Super Hornet! I’d love to experience landing and taking off from an aircraft carrier.
Either an F-18 or a Cobra
@@elijahkennedy-gibbens2593 F-18 would be sick
@@SamEckholm I'd love to fly in a B2 Spirit Bomber tbh
@@SamEckholm ikr. It was my favorite fighter as a kid.
Everybody gangsta until the MH-53’s rotors stop immediately, fold, and the heli starts making weird sounds…
HOLD YOUR FIRE!!!
Underrated comment
@@colinkerr372 Stand by to engage!
You mean transformers?
And destroys a whole airforce base
MW2 fans: “That’s the pave low”
Haha I was thinking that the whole time. I was like “Who got the 9 kill streak!?”
and this also give's me bad flash backs to a certain mission.
@@WorldEaterEnjoyer_01 we shall not talk about it *whispers* fucking Shepherd
*Exits the Chopper* Good that's one less loose end.
@@meek0o684 background 🎶??
I flew US Marine CH-53E's from 2006-2014. It's an amazing aircraft, and the men and women who maintain it are some of the smartest and hardest working people our nation has. I'd love to be able to take a few laps in the pattern with one again....
As a grunt, had the opportunity to ride in and be dropped off by CH-53's in Iraq and Afghanistan. Had alot of fun and it inspired me to get my private pilot and work towards flying OH-58's. Was wondering why they had a Stratus ADSB in a military aircraft. Is it required for military now?
@@ajbusmc2001 Thanks for doing the hardest job there is! I EAS'd over 6 years ago, but I was an instructor on the 53 when I got out, and they were making available civilian Stratus type equipment to instructors at the time to reduce workload in certain situations. ADSB wasn't even a wink in the eye at that time, we just had the additional moving map capabilities with the Stratus. Nowadays perhaps legacy aircraft like....well any Navy or Marine rotor aircraft might use that to comply with ADSB requirements stateside. But the 53E certainly is more convenient to fly in the US airspace system with a puck and moving map. I've done plenty of hard IFR flying with nothing but the steam gauges to look at ha....but my instinct says they don't have to/aren't complying with ADSB. Just using it to make life easier.
@@ajbusmc2001 , as written above, its the cheapest way to bring modern technology to an old but proven design. Just like the Shuttle Orbiters were littered with laptops. Their avionics was 70’s technology but was tested seventeen ways to Sunday. Changing it would have cost billions and introduced a lot of risks, so they just used portables to introduce new tech. Today, when a new experiment or gadget goes on orbit to the ISS, if it needs computer support they fly a laptop with all the tools needed with the hardware. It goes home or over the side when the experiment is over. I’m sure they are doing the same thing with the Stratus. I’ve seen them on several AF and Navy aircraft in other videos. All the things that make it good for civilian aircraft make it pretty handy for the military too. I do have an ADSB receiver here at home along with SDR that I use to pluck aviation radio out of the skies. Occasionally you will see a military aircraft on ADSB, but often the only way I know they are there is listening to their frequencies and hearing them talk to controllers. I live near an airport that is a former Air Force base turned commercial airport but it still has a couple of Guard units on part of the facility. You can hear and see them visually taking off and landing but only occasionally do they turn the fish finder on.
So much veterans. Which is good Thank y’all for your service
I had a first class ticket once on a 53 Echo from Al-Jafr to the Boat. The inflight meal was amazing!
Flew 1300hrs with HM15 as a crew chief from 2011-2017. Glad to see you're showing them some love.
I hope to be aircrew on them, how was it? And what're you able to do after you get out?
@ Grayson Willard I flew as crew chief with Hm15 at Alameda NAS cali. 92 to 96 I lobe this beast
@@dalewright3667cool brother
Ur name is funny Military alphabet Wtf
@@buckleuputile2395 ,
We got picked up by one of these in Afghanistan, it landed in the field next to us and was bigger than the compound we was living in! It had been raining heavily the nite before so the helectopter sunk in the mud burying its landing gear and bedding its self in. We all climbed on, the pilot gave it full stick upwards screaming the engines, the whole thing shook like hell then we just popped out like a cork from the mud, such a machine! Great vid thank you🙏
"It has enough fuel to fly for 6 hours" Some engineer: Lets make it so we can do air-to-air refueling.
Lol, but you never know
Some fly to Afghanistan and back ;)
6 hours range, and air-to-air refueling, AND you can fit it in the back of a cargo plane
I guess 6hrs on land and out in the vast oceans mean two entirely different things, especially if the thing has to drag gizmos in the pond to detonate mines that may do ssrious harm to ships, subs and mermaids.
You know your on an airforce or navy post when there are 5 dudes and 7 different camo patterns among them
Are you counting Fatigues and Flight Suits or just Fatigues 😂
@@darkerbrother1 If I counted those I'd be way above the alloted fingers and toes us cav scouts compute with
@@Cyph3rX Lol. I feel you. Back in the 70s when I was in 4 different kinds of fatigues and 3 different flight suits. When I got back to the World in 80 I came back with Tiger Stripe Fatigues and subdued everything. People just stared at me. I had no idea at the time that they were not allowed stateside. 😆. Just think how far uniforms have come from the old cotton fatigues
@@darkerbrother1 Tiger stripe crye combat uniforms have been going on ebay for over 1300 dollars! Definitely a sweet pattern! Sounds like you've lived an interesting life did you gun or fly?
@@Cyph3rX Aircrew that saw trigger time.
I've said this before, and I'll say it again, your videos are so underrated, it's a common thing for people to exaggerate with support, but I'm not joking when I say that you could probably get a few hundred thousand subscribers if you keep this kind of quality up!
Appreciate it!
Like he said but not just a few thousand but in a year or so you can reach million. Wish you good luck.
Yea, 100% the quality is amazing, it’s just not a lot of people are interested in the military and all the fun toys they have.
@@jedidr4918 Over 300,000 people so far seem to be ☺️
I’m new here, but he makes good videos
I launch and recovered these helos in the Philippines on the George Washington CVN73
JTsuits!!! Your the man.
Reaction video?
Cool
I bet you’re in this video. Thanks for your service
THE MAFIA
The rotor wash coming off the sea dragon was massive, yet amazing!
We used to bring the German CH-53 Sea Stallions in with 2 guys. One to marshall it in and the bigger guy to hold the marshaller steady 👌
@@bluerallyes2 😂😂
Balls of steel. I served in the Marines and even I wouldn't get in a Navy helicopter if it wasn't necessary.
I’ve experienced the Blackhawk and Chinook but let me tell you these bad boys and the Super Stallion counterpart are absolutely MASSIVE the Marines and Navy sure know how to show off huge helicopters.
the Pave Low is such a badass nickname too
Recruiting PR got to a total new dimension these days ...
I wonder if they asked him to 'get a bucket of rotor wash'. US Navy checking in.
As a child, my step dad was assigned to HM-15 in the early 2000's when it was based in Corpus Christi. I walked through and sat in the cockpit of most of their aircraft when I was a kid. Really cool to see they they're still flying.
Sam: He protecc, he attacc but most importantly the aviation king is bacc.
I love these giant chonkers, they're absolute UNITS! Also realized most people may find it ugly, like the A-10, but to me, the weirdly different/unique design makes these super appealing.
As A former NAVY HM -15 alum that Aircraft is a real piece of work but I'm glad it is getting some love. Things haven't change there from the looks of it.
My father flew the CH-53 in the Marine Corps; he retired shortly before the "Echo" model was online. He used to call it the "Superbird!" And he was always sorry he never got a chance to fly it! But he flew many ships that lead up to it!
Absolutely loved it! I always known the MH-53 was a big helicopter, but it really put it into perspective when y’all walked alongside the fuel tanks. Although not a rotor-wing, this reminds me a lot of my first time flying on a C-130J; like you, my face was stuck to the window the whole time and I couldn’t help but walk around and ask about every mechanism inside! 😂
It certainly is a beast! Glad you had the chance to ride on some cool aircraft too.
This thing is H.U.G.E.
"that's what she (or in this case HE) said!" :) :) :) Sorry, couldn't resist!
SM. You're correct. Live near Sikorsky Manufacturing plant in Connecticut and a family day there a few years ago brought two of these in. Didn't know these 'monsters' existed!
@@stephenbritton9297 lol
@@frankb3178 I grew up in south east Trumbull, used to see Blackhawks regularly, but these bigger beasts were rare!
Oh boy wait till you see the mi-8
9:31 - Who knew these bad boys had a Rear View Mirror on them? I surely didn’t! Pretty cool mate! Subscribed too BTW. 👍🏻🚁
Back in the 90's I worked at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Indianapolis and worked on the MH-53E MPS (mission planning system), specializing in the mine threat database and countermeasure algorithms. I spent a lot of time at Pax River during flight testing of the MPS as well as the old Naval Coastal Systems Center in Panama City, FL. We worked with HM-14 & HM-15. I never did make it to Norfolk, but did make it to Corpus Christi and Alameda before they closed it down. Thanks for a trip down memory lane!
Wait... so let me get this straight? The NAVAL air warfare center is in Indianapolis? A place that's nowhere near water? (Unless you count the great lakes...)
Leave it to the Air Force guy to talk about getting a little hot and dirty.
😂
No matter what branch, maintainers always get hot and dirty. 👀
My sentiments exactly I would like to see his reaction in my amphibious assault vehicle at the Marine Corps Air ground combat Center in the desert of Twentynine Palms 1980 LOL Semper Fi
He is so right about the hydraulic fluid leaking. My first experience riding the Marine Corps CH53 was on USS Saipan and we were going to Camp Shoup in Kuwait for the 2003 OIF. We didn’t remove our rucksack so it was the one on the seats. It was only a 30 minute ride, but I was lucky to sit below a dripping hydraulic line and I could not move because of the rucksack sitting. The fluid was warm too and by the time we landed in Kuwait my kevlar helmet cover had so many drip marks. Fun times! Stay safe everyone and have a great day.
Title: King of the Sky. The Navy's Largest Helicopter. -- Mi-26: Hold my Chinook...
Mi-26: Also Hold My Airliner.
Not about russia
Great video! Brings back great memories of my Navy days (1973-1976) serving as Squadron Flight Surgeon of HM12, THE ORIGINAL airborne mine-countermeasure squadron in Norfolk, when they were just figuring out the kinks in the mission. The old CH53’s were just then being replaced by the newer, more powerful RH53D. I spent lots of time flying with them, both at home & abroad on deployments in crucial geopolitical missions.
I spent the first 18 months of my time as an aerial gunner on the USAF variant of this bird, the Pave Low, before it was phased out for the CV-22. I absolutely adored the hell out of that platform! I transitioned over to the HH-60 Pave Hawk for the remainder of my service, and while I grew to enjoy it as well, the -53 will always be near and dear to my heart.
I was on a dart team in 2013 south Korea , one of these went down in a training exercise with the marine corp . we cut and packed all the wreckage into two medium size sea containers. Nobody lost a life in the accident but some injuries. Pretty lucky considering there was around 12 people on board.
I was digging you enthusiasm for wearing the cranial. It isn’t the most comfortable thing and I always hated wearing them, but it does provide your head, eyes and ears some protection. Actually some nice gel pads on the ear piece makes a world of difference.
This brings me back to aircrew school and training in both Norfolk and Pensacola on the Sea Dragon. The most vivid memory of that seeing all the gear you have on and having the jump in the pool and swim a mile with it. Boots don't give you any traction in the water either! lol thanks for the blast from the past!
Dude dont allow these haters with the thump down get to you, What you just did was the coolest thing ever and they mad they couldn't do it, check mark one on your bucket list.
I was a Marine back in the 70’s who was shuttled around on the CH47 and CH53, noisy, scared but also a rush. The scariest was flying off of and landing on the USS Iwo Jima LHD 7
Sailed with the Iwo Jima on a few deployments, I was a crew member on the Ponce (LPD-15)...we could fit two of these on our flight deck, can still remember the serious rotor wash, didn't brace well enough once and almost went swimming 😄
Many people may not know, but USAF operated MH-53s as heavy lift, CSAR and then special operations helicopters until their retirement in 2008. The last version was the MH-53M Pave Low IV. They were replaced by the CV-22B.
@Thunderbolt They were very capable, very safe and saved a ton of lives. They were the only helos flying in the Afghan mountains with success. Their power at high altitudes was unmatched. They were retired because they were old and maintenance hogs.
@Thunderbolt USAF never had 3-engine models and that CO has nothing to do with any crash. You know they’re just COs for 3 years, right? The last 53 crash with a Navy bird was in 2014. She wasn’t a CO 7 years ago.
@Thunderbolt This video is about the sailors and equipment of the US Navy. It is not a commentary on design, maintenance or accidents. There is a proper time and venue to bring up the issue you’re bringing up. This simply isn’t it. I’m sure you can make a video about your issue. That’s not the topic here.
@Thunderbolt The actual FACT is that you were, and are completely ignorant to the issues at hand and what has or hasn’t been done to resolve issues with the #2 engine on the E model. You started off by commenting on the Pave Low, which never had the issue in the first place, out of ignorance. You continued to comment on the Navy version without knowing that the vast majority of the E model crashes were due to FOD and not mechanical deficiencies, out of ignorance. You blame the CO of the squadron for issues decades ago, out of ignorance, and you blame the Navy for having done nothing, despite the fact that they and Sikorski have always continued to repair and re-design the deficiencies, again, out of ignorance. Do yourself a huge favor: take yourself and your ignorance elsewhere.
To all the military whom put this together and watching, Thank you for all your service!
It is very impressive!
Lead acft in Desert Storm were USAF Special Ops MH-53J's. Amazing to see this awesome acft still flying.
Sam, way to capture a big dream of mine, getting up close to 'The Beast', Il bet that thing rattles light a HUGE bucket of bolts! Great video capture (thanks Swayne!) and awesome music in the background. I have two brothers that served many years in the Air Force and very proud of those who serve. You both make a great video/artistic team!
Oh man this is so awesome! I served with their sister squadron, HM-14. I was an SK working in the tool room. Its always a beautiful thing when the AMCM community gets love.
Thanks for the memories, I am a plank owner of the HM-15 BlackHawks I was CDI-003, worked in the Mech shop back when we did the Home Port change to Alameda CA. I was the last one to see my friends alive on ACFT 06 that fateful day. It was a real privilege to work with the great people in that squadron on such an iconic helicopter. Good to see you guys are back in Norfolk and still lifting the heavy stuff!
Me too bro!! I made the move to Alameda, accepted every bird from Sikorsky!!
@@SchusterJames Right on, remember how the factory had the engine wash lines hooked up to the wrong engines.
These videos are moto as heck, and not in the bad cringey way, super professional.
I was in the sister squadron, HM-14 Vanguard.
Awesome video Sam. Reminds me of some videos showing service man parachuting out the back of this beast.
Love your channel. Found you through Swayne's channel. Your camera work is amazing. Keep up the good work!!!
Sam, thanks for sharing these great videos for us. What a great way to show potential new members of the different military groups we have and career’s.
Former HM-15 bubba here... gotta love big iron!!
I was on JTF Katrina (after Hurricane Katrina) and, though in the Air Force, had the opportunity to fly in one of these a few times as we conducted operations delivering relief to New Orleans. (Crazy thing - when we were delivering supplies, the gangs were literally shooting at us.)
and people complain why sending armed personnel for humanitarian ops
Simply awesome!! Dude, you get into some of the most awesome situations. Thank you for sharing. I really enjoy your videos
Excellent video LT. I've seen the MH-53's from HM-14 "Vanguard" at NASNI a few years ago. Keep up the GREAT WORK!!!
Thank you Sam for this video.Keep up the good work!
5:48 „we have to head inside and grab some beer“ sounds good
He was my Lt 😂 good guy
That was a great experience to watch by itself, let alone to have an opportunity to fly in it. Thanks for making and sharing this video about an incredible aircraft (or should I say Beast of the skies!). Shout out to all the men and women on the frontlines everywhere. Stay safe.
I was in HM-15 from 2005-2009. This brings back some cool memories. Now I'm a Flight Engineer on the KC-10A in the Air Force. Very cool vid.
I’ve ridden on them and hauled them many, many times. Those things are a BEAST!!!
Hauled them? May I ask what you piloted sir? I am very intrigued!
Now that's a video that brings back some memories, since I flew out of NAS Norfolk for many years. I see you launched from the seawall, did a pier transition to the south and finished up at Felker AAF. Towards the end of your video, when you were in the fuel pits - my old squadron was behind you (the MV-22 squadron, I retired before they transitioned from CH-46Es). Thanks for a great video!
Awesome memories for sure!
I was a CH53 Crew Chief in south & No.Vn72/73.These were D models. We threw ALL the Sound padding/ Insulation away! I have gone 220 Kts w/ 10 folks on board & a couple of Hyd. pigs on board. Rite over the waves into DanangRVN. Semper Fi.
You’re channel will def reach 1M in no time. Greats shots and great content. See you on top man!
This helicopter gives me chills because of Transformers.
😂😂😂😂 blackout was a gangsta lol
Mh pilot shut down your aircraft or you will be fired on.
Should do a pave hawk rescue squadron next! Love this video!
How cool is this?! Thanks for showing aspects we would not otherwise see. Keep up the great work.
1989-1991 I was there but HM-15 was a West Coast SQD. I was at NAS Norfolk and was with HM-12 and HM-14, went to Op. Desert Storm/Shield with Hm-14 DET-2. my uncle is a plank owner at HM-12. worked that flight line in the middle of winter. crazy flash backs there mate
Really fun video. I remember my first time in one, I was soaked in hydraulic fluid and was super concerned and told the flight crew... they laughed.
I've always wanted to fly in a helicopter and this makes me want to fly even more
These are pretty boring. The shitters (53s) feel just like a commercial airline ride just because they are so large. Ospreys give you a rush if you have a pilot that likes to pull pitch. Find a Kiowa pilot if you want a wild ride. Those are the crazy ones.
Go fly one! It’s fun
@@micsierra806 Kiowa is not in use anymore.
200 bucks and you'll get a whole introductory flight lesson
@@thegreatdogzilla5855 they are tho
Hey man! Saw ur post about this vid yesterday and couldn’t wait. Looks great! Imma watch it now...
Thanks so much for posting this video. I have ridden across the bridge tunnel there many many times since I was a little kid and have always wondered what was “over there” . You gave me a grand tour. Thanks again. I’ve always always been mesmerized by the size of the Sea Knight helicopter .
This channel is the best USAF recruiter in the world! I love your stuff Sam keep it up!!!!
When I was assigned to my depts SWAT team we had the awesome opportunity to take a “familiarization ride” with a US ARMY Blackhawk Squadron out of joint base Cape Cod. We did Nap of the earth at low levels and was absolutely blown away at just how fast and maneuverable the Blackhawk is. By far the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced with my clothes on lol.
8:58 haha that's an old saying "if it ain't leaking, it ain't working". As a MH-60S crewman a leakage found is a cause for a flight recall and system inspection lol. Good job on the video.
very cool they let you do this. loved learning about these fellas
Great video. Got about an hour flight time in it during fleet week while I was was pilot training for the Navy. Aside from the H60 It’s is the Cadillac of Helicopters. Great video. Great commentary as well.
Hey Sam, I really enjoyed learning about this awesome aircraft in your well done video! Maybe if the music was more in the background though?
My dad was with HM-12 and was a plank owner of HM-14. I grew up running around those hangers at NAS Norfolk.
Both you guys have great channels. Love to you both
You have made me want to join the Airforce. You are doing good.
Wow, I just discovered your channel a few weeks ago and you're seriously underrated! The content never fails to amaze me.
SO many things to keep maintained. That interior was so impressive. Probably miles of lines and wiring
But that is a beast of a helicopter, although the ride I took was in the Marine Corp variation, we took their crew for a ride in ours, and they returned the favor.
Thank you so much for sharing this video😘..amazing!..so excited to watch you on MH-53!Wow!Cool!
This was cool to watch, I work across the street at VAW124, enjoyed seeing what the other squadrons on the base do!
In 28 years in the Marine Corps it was the smoothest ride I ever had in a helicopter.
She is a beast I was fortunate to see the Super Stallion version over our house few months ago huge and loud my neighbors literally filed a complaint when one passed low around 1am 😅
Let’s go Sam!!! Awesome video and some awesome shots!!
very cool production.....thank you Skipper.
I enjoyed your video as I live on the Outer Banks and travel to Tidewater often so I am familiar with many of the backgrounds in your video.
When I was on the USS Independence in Japan they would land between cats 1 & 2 and the rotors were so long they would extend over the catwalks port and starboard side. HC-4 Black Stallions.
90 feet tip to tip,snd they fold.
Back in the day (1989-1992) while stationed at NAS Cubi Pt. AIMD's Airframes shop. We'd constantly get those huge intake assemblies in for repair and the fold out boarding steps. Oh... and cable builds, we'd manufacture cables for days. Oddly enough, I don't recall much else coming in for repair from them.
The Production quality is outstanding m8, deserve more subs!
Appreciate that!
Great video Sam!
Meanwhile Mi-26 Laughing in Corner After watching This😅😅
you're one lucky guy! Nice ride. Thanks for the summary.
MH-53 pave low. Much respect from the NZDF (New Zealand 🇳🇿 Army)
A unique air force opportunity for you Sam, the Holloman high speed test track. I work there and think you could make an awesome video of it
Will check it out!!
Now imagine mi 26 which can literally carry this helo both are amazing piece of engineering
Mi26 picks up a chinook
That looks like fun. That's some serious helicopter. I believe that's the heaviest lifting helo in the present day U.S. Military inventory.
Omg im stationed in norfolk! it's so cool to see you here!
I worked next door to these at MCBH and they truly are a wonder. I was working on SH-60B helicopters and they looked so dainty next to one of these. The cranial looks cool, but after wearing them for about 4 hours, they get hot, wet, and nasty. Fixed-wing guys make talk shit about Helo's, but they better remember that it's going to be a helo pulling their ass out of danger.
When were you there? I was next door to you guys from 2010 to 2014 at 463
@@jpickUSMC 98-00 103 HSL-37
I know this isn't the largest or most powerful of the world's heavy helicopters, but it is definitely the coolest.
That one flight cost could feed and house me for life
Launching and landing on a aircraft carrier is a different experience. Got to do on a C-2 but hopefully I get to do so in an F/A-18 or a E/A-18 in the future. Currently in my last semester of ROTC and got assigned Naval Flight Officer .
I didn’t even know you got ranked up to 1st LT. Congrats Bro!
Thanks ayyyy