The newest Fl-created Valiant Air Demand Museum features added the fresh You.S. Navy’s huge MH-53E Ocean Dragon to help you the range.
Into the October sixteen, Chopper Exploit Countermeasures Squadron (HM) twelve embarked into a life threatening mission in order to Titusville, Fl, presenting an MH-53E Ocean Dragon chopper into Federal Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM). That it legendary routes usually now be on loan with the Valiant Sky Demand (VAC), enriching the fresh new aviation museum’s range.
“We’re thrilled to understand the Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) people depicted within museum,” told you HM-12 Commanding Officer Capt. no credit check installment loans Hamilton Eric Johnson. “For almost all, AMCM is actually good lifelong career. I’ve recommended the HM-a dozen Sailors to ‘Function as the Legacy’-a reminder to honor the foundation put by those people just before united states regarding the mine countermeasures people together with Navy.”
The ocean Dragon, now housed within VAC Warbird Sky Art gallery, will continue to be on long lasting financing off NNAM. Hill Goodspeed, NNAM’s deputy manager, showcased the importance of collaboration that have spouse galleries so you can broaden brand new reach away from naval aviation background. “The new National Naval Aviation Museum’s founding goal inside the 1962 were to ‘come across, collect, preserve, and display’ artifacts that depict Naval Aviation’s storied earlier in the day,” told you Goodspeed. The fresh induction ceremony distinguished the latest steeped history of MH-53E Water Dragon and you can honored the newest sacrifices of them that served. Col. Kate Fleeger, System Movie director for the H-53 Hefty Elevator Helicopters System Workplace (PMA-261), showcased the sea Dragon’s important role.
“For nearly 40 years, the MH-53 could have been a beneficial Navy workhorse from the Airborne Mine Countermeasures objective,” Fleeger said. “Past its AMCM requirements, the ocean Dragon has offered heavy-lift operations, delivered mail and you will provides on Persian Gulf, helped in the emergency rescue, plus battled fireplaces playing with liquids shops bladders-Bambi Buckets.”
Chopper Exploit Countermeasures Squadron (HM) a dozen embarked into a serious purpose so you’re able to Titusville, Fl, October. 16, where it officially demonstrated an MH-53E Water Dragon helicopter into National Naval Aviation Art gallery (NNAM), in fact it is on mortgage to help you Valiant Air Order inside the Titusville. Attendees spoke with the pilots and you may aircrew after the MH-53E started to this new museum. Photos by the Jennifer Cragg
Valiant Sky Command Embraces MH-53E Sea Dragon Helicopter
Just like the its founding inside 1977, brand new Warbird Heavens Museum during the Titusville has expanded using aviation enthusiasts, experts, and you will pilots intent on sustaining America’s aviation history. The latest coming of one’s MH-53E marks a historic moment, as it’s the original-and maybe simply-Ocean Dragon become presented into the a museum form. Whether or not twenty eight MH-53E helicopters stay-in provider, the brand new fleet is set to begin phasing in 2025, with complete old age questioned from the 2027. Capt. Johnson reflected on aircraft’s legacy. “It’s a great host in order to travel, and it is significantly more incredible to see the entire squadron become to one another to make this happen,” said Johnson. “The sea Dragon might have been an important device to have tactical strategies and you will a proper deterrent, guaranteeing delivery lanes will always be without sea mines.”
Since the addition inside 1986, the newest MH-53E Sea Dragon might have been pivotal both in mine countermeasures and you may heavy-lift operations. Clothed that have cutting-edge technical, plus exploit-bing search sonar and you may detonation gizmos, the sea Dragon features protected naval fleets while also carrying soldiers and you can products. The ocean Dragon could well be good center point in the Warbird Museum, intent on sustaining aviation background to own future generations. Bonnie Towne, NNAM’s point out of contact, starred a switch character during the assisting which historical import. DRAGON 437 (BuNo 163066), immediately after providing for pretty much forty years having Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Several could well be prepared to be presented during the Valiant Air Command Warbird Art gallery very early next season.
The sea Dragon, nicknamed “Joanna” did an excellent flyby the brand new Kennedy Place Cardiovascular system. Photographs thru Valiant Heavens Order Warbird Art gallery/ Rob Shaw