US Navy Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon Preflight - Start Up - Takeoff from Tri-Cities Airport 10Apr23

#usnavy #MH53SeaDragon #aerowephile
Departure from Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI) of a US Navy Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon from squadron HM-12. The crew performed pre-flight maintenance on their Sea Dragon before loading up to depart. The pilots made a nose standing aggressive take off and headed back to their home base at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.
My thanks to the MH-53E crew for their generous hospitality.
Please visit www.aerowephile.com for more aviation photos and videos!
10Apr23

[@antikoerper256]

Thats a badass coloring scheme! Much love, respect and thanks for the service to all US servicemen and women, past or present, from your humble NATO ally - Bulgaria

[@user-vj2vm2wz3o]

I loved the Words of Sikorsky when he was asked many years ago "How Does a helicopter fly" His answer was, by beating the air into submission!

[@mikesahle1193]

Thank you 🙏 for your service 🇺🇸🚁👍👏👏👏👍🎥

[@RMechAlloy]

Wow! They should call this one "Blackout".

[@rollyherrera623]

Gotta love these big boys toys! A fine machine!

[@waydetahtawy319]

👍Really badass flying machine 🚁

[@michaelwalsh1078]

thank you very much from Cork , Ireland...............what a machine !!! and sound

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Thanks for checking out my video Michael. That Sea Dragon is a beast. Cheers!

[@llamashockz]

great to see another corkman out and about, always one of us to be found somewhere

[@patriot0919]

Good luck during the war with that much time for preflight.....

[@doylebrockman8225]

Beautiful.

[@Milepost1965]

Magnificent, (BEAST)..👍👍👍

[@jonimestas9692]

WOW! Just WOW!!!

[@AngelinaTP]

Amazing helicopter

[@felixmusic_tattoo]

Una Maquina Increíble☺

[@chimichangapoops6244]

Great video, thanks again. 👍

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Appreciate you checking out my video. Lots more to come. Cheers!

[@mohammedcohen]

...worked at the Sikorsky facility in WPB For 14 years (1986 - 2000) used to see 53s doing lift tests with huge concrete blocks - after the big layoff of 2002 the built the first Kilo model there prior to tests and acceptance by the USMC

[@jimmybishop8251]

That beautiful sound of a 53

[@MmBeeA]

One heck of a dragon fly boys... lovely to see

[@ishudimpi3871]

Amazing

[@rosechannel9321]

Very nice job done by Helicopter. Thanks. KHB LHR

[@avalanche9026]

It’s a beast.

[@ShearonNewsom-fy1rb]

Beautiful

[@hishifuku4687]

迫力がありますね！

[@skywarp1]

Great capture of this big boy. That color scheme reminds me of the during the days of the Korean War.

[@organicgene9494]

Awesome catch, subscribed

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Thank you very much! Appreciate you checking out my videos. Cheers!

[@easttnrailray5685]

Very Cool

[@rafalemarine5063]

Magnifique machine 👍 . Hélicoptère de légende 💪💪

[@DSTsucks]

Thanks for the great video. I live in Henry County and this Sikorsky flew directly over my house at 2,000 ft (according to Flight Aware) on the way to and from Bristol.

[@AEROWEPHILE]

You are very welcome. I had an absolutely fabulous time with the crew. Cheers!

[@tacoenvy]

That's a big ol girl

[@paulprigge1209]

Yeah I thought the CH 47 was big. It

[@Tuanang-fn1xl]

@@paulprigge1209 g

[@RameswarKashyap-kc3bu]

​@@paulprigge1209😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@jrawenlyngdoh9986]

​

[@icebluecuda1]

Lol. Quite the crew chiefs

[@basketballspinner]

Tri-Cities Airport, I know where that is. They have a total of four gates. What an experience.

[@barefootbob1269]

That is one bad ass machine!

[@leightonwhite8041]

Beautiful looking bird ❤

[@phillipalben7458]

Can’t imagine the rotor wash this beast generates. NICE!!!

[@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254]

Fantástico.

[@jeremystapleton6405]

Worked under skycranes and chinooks this is a fucking beast

[@JavierReyes-kc6zr]

Very Good 👌

[@robertsalanon2909]

C·est magique , un superbe Hélico !!....

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Yes, it certainly is a fabulous machine. Cheers!

[@kokemeister6]

Clean

[@overbank56]

What a beast!

[@kultursender6507]

Sehr schön!

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@oscaraguirre602]

Hi good nigth,,, its time to enyoy with this great video,,, AMAZING HELICOPTER,,, thanks of share your video,,, congrautlations, your friend Oscar de Playa del Carmen Q R México,,, so long,,,

[@michaelvaughan8486]

The use to drag some sort of mine sweeping line in the water at NAS Whidbey mostly at night pretty bad ass to see them in action ! Glad their on our side ! Go Navy

[@AEROWEPHILE]

I agree. Go Navy! Thanks for sharing your memory of the Sea Dragon. Cheers!

[@RVBob]

We never towed at night. That was against NATOPS.

[@yzmoto80]

When I was living in Stratford, about a half mile from Sikorsky Airport, the best cheeseburger on Earth, was across the street from Sikorsky on the corner of Access rd. and Main St. For the locals…Lordship Blvd, Long Beach, etc. You know ! 😎

[@tamsacne6915]

What a monster - so cool -

[@user-du3lf5qg8b]

I live on a large South Texas ranch way out in the brush country. There is a somewhat nearby rancher yet far to my South who comes in by helicopter. Reminds me of the days in La Grange there in Warrenton near Fayetteville when famous heart surgeon DeBakey would fly over us on the way to his ranch. We would all say amongst ourselves, "There goes DeBakey".

[@seangelarden9543]

Remember standing in front of these when they came on to take the Marine detachment for training at Gitmo

[@topturretgunner]

Wow. That is a big helicopter

[@spawntez]

reminds me of my marine infantry days at Pendleton. Thank you

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Thank you for your service to our country. I really enjoy hearing the memories that veterans share about these machines. Cheers!

[@OneCatFamily]

How I miss this...

[@senoseno1076]

🎉 GOOD LACH

[@SathishKumar-qh9sj]

I love congrats Rahul je❤

[@charlgouws1959]

Glad the heavy chopper in Call of Duty DMZ doesn't take this long to get in the air :D

[@bigredc222]

Cool bird.

[@74amills]

You wouldn't want to be in a hurry waiting on this.

[@olafwalbrecht3311]

Super Aufnahmen und die Lackierung 🤗🤗👏🤝🤝

[@ioanbota9397]

Realy I like this powerful helicoptere

[@skyteam8561]

สวยงามมาก

[@AEROWEPHILE]

👍👍Thanks for watching. Cheers!

[@davidhockenbery8423]

That's bad ass

[@Herby7800]

what a giant!

[@MiketheNerdRanger]

That is one big mother of a helicopter; even the tail rotor is massive

[@vantonymccutcheon4518]

That's big ol girl sea dragon 🐉🐲 helicopter 🚁 😍🇺🇸♥️♥️🤗🤗👌🏾🔥

[@samandbritt224]

Like for the Food City Dirt Race decal on the sponson. These guys got their priorities right!

[@AEROWEPHILE]

I presented those Food City 500 decals to the crew after the race in victory lane. They were really excited to get them. I was surprised to see them on the Sea Dragon the next morning. They said they had to clean off all the grime on the sponsons in order to apply the decals. Cheers!

[@TSeck911]

My first duty station was HM-12 back in 76 when the squadron was the largest in the Navy. It eventually split into three squadrons, HM-12, 14 and 16. I was a plank owner in 16 and we eventually supplied the birds that went into IRAN to attempt to rescue the hostages. Until you actually get close to these machines you have no concept of how big and powerful they are.

[@nasirzainal6309]

😊😊

[@dbarnes544]

I did two tours in HM. HM-12, 14, 16. Lot of good memories there. Many hours flying those birds. RH 53s, MH 53s.

[@Bholakumar-pp5nr]

Y

[@duanepierson4375]

RH-53D

[@dbarnes544]

Flew the RH 53D, MH 53E

[@jasonallison5121]

Another beautiful East Tennessee morning

[@user-em9du6bf3k]

Thank youfom kingdom

[@AEROWEPHILE]

You’re welcome. Cheers!

[@user-em9du6bf3k]

@@AEROWEPHILE I am not

[@AEROWEPHILE]

@@user-em9du6bf3k Not what?!?

[@ShearonNewsom-fy1rb]

Wow

[@giovannyramirez9232]

Elegante este Elicoctero saludos mis Respetos 🇨🇷🇨🇷🇨🇷🇨🇷🏳️

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Thanks @giovannyramirez9232 for watching my video of this fantastic helicopter. Cheers!

[@giovannyramirez9232]

@@AEROWEPHILE muchas gracias saludos mis Respetos si muy Elegante Ese Elicoctero de Costa Rica 🇨🇷🇨🇷👋 saludos 🏳️

[@andrewneill9873]

Looks like it's a lady flying her too. That's mega cool!!! ❤❤❤

[@icegiant1000]

Uhg! 5 minutes of watching it just sit there. Go already!

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Everything comes to him who waits. Cheers!

[@mylo2619]

Ok who else that has over 400 tow hours and 2000 plus flight hours were looking at the droops😂😂😂😍😍😍

[@RVBob]

How many ppl looked up droop stops on Google just to know what you were talking about. 😆

[@militarycentralofficial]

it's the most impressive helicopter ever made darling

[@ScrotusXL]

"Angria" cool callsign for CDR Andrea 😂

[@350ZEASZE]

Hilarious… dude rolls out the gas truck in cargo shorts and a Tommy Bahama shirt while Rambo crew chief is in full battle gear. Lol.

[@chrisdean8235]

I only fly RC Heli's, but just wondering why the tail fin on this chopper was designed with that prominent slant to it? What is the advantage?

[@johnosbourn4312]

So, what color is this aircraft painted in, David? It looks like either Gloss Black, or Sea Bue.

[@AEROWEPHILE]

It's painted Black. Depending on the light, it does have a blue tint. Apparently its the only Sea Dragon painted black. All the rest are that Navy gray color. Cheers!

[@johnosbourn4312]

@@AEROWEPHILE Thanks, my friend.

[@seagrave7336]

That black paint gives this bird a higher level of bad assary!

[@jesseslade3084]

Helicopter she is huge

[@johnpritchette8082]

I was in HM-12 from '86 to '90. I ran the PR shop.

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Thank you for your service to our country! I’m sure you have some great stories from your time in HM-12. Cheers!

[@mattgreven7615]

what's inside the large stubby winglet kinda pods on either side? storage? Fuel? or are they just for aerodynamics?

[@AEROWEPHILE]

The wings you see on both sides are called “Sponsons”. They are enormous because they are almost entirely used for fuel storage. They can hold about four times the fuel of a typical CH-53 Super Stallion. The MH-53 can hold 2,277 gallons of fuel which gives it extended range. Hope this answers your question. Cheers!

[@mattgreven7615]

@@AEROWEPHILE thanks!

[@Defence.Update]

like skies monster

[@tanpengjoo7205]

MADE IN USA ALWAYS POWERFUL N BEAUTIFUL

[@erikbunty2016]

This is one heluvacopter.

[@user-yd7ed6lr8h]

❤❤❤❤

[@janiceclark9361]

❤❤❤ AWESOME , BEAUTIFUL & ENGINEERING PAR EXCELLENCE 💜💜💜 OUR U.S. MILITARY ARE GOD'S ANGELS ON EARTH, ken holley

[@mr.badboy7978]

নিশি আপার অভিনয়টা আমার কাছে এত ভালো লাগে, কি বলবো বুঝতে পারছি না ।

[@ramonmateo5428]

Robusto ese helicópteros 😊

[@AEROWEPHILE]

An aircraft that large better be "Robust". : ) Cheers!

[@matthewthomas0330]

TMP Pearlescent Azteking? & NCC -1701 - CVN Yes? 😃

[@LuanNguyen-uf6zj]

❤👍👌💪💪👏👏🙌

[@joelouden6592]

Are those two protrusions up front just below the nose rear-view mirrors?

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Good guess! You are correct Joe. Those are mirrors the pilots use to look behind them. One of their primary jobs is to pull a sonar sled across the surface of the ocean searching for submarines. The mirrors allow the pilots to watch the sled as they pull it. Hope that explains things. Cheers!

[@joelouden6592]

@@AEROWEPHILE Thank you. I thought maybe they could be some sort of sensors but it's even cooler that they're mirrors.

[@SchusterJames]

LOL, not submarines - sea mines and the gear they are towing

[@duanepierson4375]

@@AEROWEPHILE the sleds are used against Mines. The Sun hunting is done w/ dipping sonar and/or sonar buoys out of smaller helicopters such as H-2s, H-3s and now a days H-60s & H-92s.

[@RVBob]

​@@AEROWEPHILEThe MK105 sled was a magnetic mine influence sled. It has nothing to do with sonar.

[@rohitnautiyal7090]

I can probably still get up there and do a daily inspection

[@user-zb7ij9qv9x]

Y eso era todo...

[@ecrusch]

That thing is a freakin whopper!

[@AEROWEPHILE]

You are correct Sir. And Loud!! Cheers!

[@JB-257]

What kind of sign is that guy making?

[@hiker64]

What's that thing on the strut out in front, is it some kind of FLIR ?

[@RVBob]

There is nothing on the front strut. Two tow mirrors on each side of the nose and a refueling probe on the fwd right side but nothing on the front strut.

[@TJ-USMC]

"Hogs Forever"

[@jesseslade3084]

Helicopter good girl

[@mahadehasankhan8536]

Hi. My. US. Navy.😊.

[@triaamohamed6371]

J'en prend vingt blindés ultra Lux.

[@AEROWEPHILE]

We will get those delivered as soon as the check clears the bank. ; ) Cheers!

[@triaamohamed6371]

​@@AEROWEPHILEokay very well ask Joe to ask his protective friends of Hostien in Texas and David Rothschild the boss of the central bank and the American public treasury to deliver you a check quickly my friend because all his people have a lot to lose and their heads that will fall if I don't help them. transmit.🙂

[@dasmin0710]

If Darth Vader had his own helicopter, this would be it....

[@user-sd7vz9ho7t]

Вот это монстрю США сила и мощь.

[@AEROWEPHILE]

Strength and Power is exactly what this aircraft was built for. Cheers!

[@sethchyna]

so that's what the really loud ass helicopters flying around here are, holy shit

[@dprowe87]

@sethchyna - They are BIG. They are BAD. And they are LOUD! Cheers! 🙂

[@user-mr2yk1sp9g]

Ось нарешті цей галикоптер,що літає ❤❤2023❤❤

[@sailorman8668]

It was mentioned in the video description that 'the pilots made a nose standing aggressive take off'? Actually, the nose was pitched down a maximum of 15 degrees during take off, which does NOT constitute 'a nose standing aggressive' manoeurvre at all.

[@Gilles45]

You're absolutely right... the person who wrote that knows nothing about helicopters!

[@AEROWEPHILE]

OK sailor man. If you want to argue with what the Navy pilot told me he was going to do on takeoff, then have at it. I was there when it happened. And it looked and sounded cool. Cheers!

[@AEROWEPHILE]

@@Gilles45 I find your lack of faith disturbing. €{:

[@duanepierson4375]

As a Sikorsky Crew Chief for the past 40 years, that Takeoff was mild. On company 2nd flights it was common for Sikorsky pilots to stand her on her nose & go at a 45 degree plus angle. Setting on the jump seat between the pilots it seems like the whole windscreen is full of flight field. On flight in an early production MH-53E, 162506(?) we where on a navy pilot training flight at Calverton LI, after doing a bunch of touch and gos around the pattern, the Sikorsky pilot, Dave told me to Sit Down! He then asked the tower for “Field Clearance,” at that point he stopped in front of the two hangars w/ F-14s & A-6s, w/ less than 6,000 lbs of fuel on board, then he pulled the collective full up. As we blasted off the ground at 4500 FPM, he then stomped on the left pedal, unloading the tail to free up power for the main rotor. As we hit 5000 feet he pitched the nose way down and we hauled butt past the rapidly emptying out hangars. The Tower said “Nice!” And the navy pilot said, “That’s not in NATOPS.” Good times! 😊

[@Gilles45]

@@AEROWEPHILE Hey there, Mr helicopter expert, still want to argue that the takeoff was "agressive"? I find your lack of knowledge disturbing! 😂😂😂

[@user-xx1ky6nh6x]

👍👍👍👍👍👍❤👍❤👍❤👍❤👍🇺🇸❤