Search and Rescue crash recovery

Just happened to be at the right place at the right time to witness the military recover a crashed search and rescue helicopter. No fatalities reported.
#mammothlakes #california #searchandrescue

[@veronicamissV]

That was so cool!!

[@Albi1983]

Sikorsky CH-53K “King Stallion” 👍😎🚁💪 1:45

[@mammothlars7301]

Pretty intact for a Backcountry crash

[@Ch1n4Sailor]

except NO TAIL

[@nationalparksprincess3216]

😮 Wow 😮

[@teddybear4020]

good morning .!!!!! how u been .?

[@cageordie]

CH-53E Super Stallion. Hard to be certain because the 3rd engine is buried on the port side behind the #1 engine. One of my friends was a crew chief on the CH-53 in the USAF and another was on the CH-53E in the USN. They are amazingly capable helicopters.

[@aarondavies8164]

This is actually the Marine Corps' newest variant, the CH-53K King Stallion. Very nice birds.

[@cageordie]

@@aarondavies8164 I am so out of date! Did they ditch all the CH-53Es, or can you tell this is a K because of something I don't see? I can spot the C-130Js we get round here, more blades, extra bumps, but I haven't seen a CH-53 in person in the last decade or more.

[@speedoflight3532]

Whichever version of the CH53 it is, it's still a badass lifting machine! The recovered helo is a UH-60 Blackhawk, or at least what's left of it.

[@aarondavies8164]

@@cageordie They still have them, because I think this Kilo is one of only 9 produced so far. I can mostly identify because of the new swept rotor blades, and lack of external side tanks.

[@rlm975]

Just a glance would tell you it's not a D. Look at the difference in the doghouse behind the main rotor. Very blunt and rounded on the D. The E and K have a more aerodynamic shape to them. Also, the vertical stab are different between the D, E, and K. Plus the D has been out of the inventory since 2012 ish.

[@clarkmadrosen1780]

Interesting thanks. Enjoy the dog walk. Fingers crossed 🤞 😊

[@ponisinceevo2684]

Blackhawk

[@cageordie]

Probably not, SH or MH 60 Seahawk. The USMC has arctic training in the Sierras.

[@garyhinton1609]

You live in a beautiful area of Calif. Can you take day trip to Yosemite?

[@cageordie]

It's about a two and a half hour drive to Yosemite Village from Mammoth Lakes. So it depends what you think is suitable for a day trip.

[@JonCox-fn3hn]

Typical Military Aviators! Why couldn't they have simply put the wreckage down on a flat bed rather than the middle of a field?

[@Fp_105]

More like why did they crash the 60 in the first place 🫡