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CH-53K transports first F-35B
As the photo in this post show, a CH-53K heavy lift helicopter transported an inoperable F-35B Lightning II airframe from Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina on Aug. 27.
The King Stallion helicopter was flown by a Marine aircrew from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, MCAS New River, North Carolina. The F-35, known as BF-01, was the first F-35 to perform a vertical landing. It was without its mission and propulsion systems, outer wings, or additional equipment and will be used as a permanent static display at MCAS Beaufort.
“This mission’s success exemplifies the professionalism, commitment, and capability that exists at HMH-461,” said Commanding Officer of HMH-461, Lt. Col. Bagley in a NAVAIR news release.
According to Bagley, the coordination between organizations was essential to making the mission a success.
“As extraordinary as it may have seemed, this was just another day for the squadron,” he said.
Col. Kate Fleeger is program manager for the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261).
“The aircraft completed the lift of the 22,000-pound F-35B with ample power margin and range, underscoring how the platform provides unmatched support to joint operations,” said Fleeger.
The second time the King Stallion has been used to transport a Lightning II
This is the second time the CH-53K King Stallion has been used to transport an F-35 Lightning II that was destined for usage after required flight test activities.
“Although the helicopter only reached IOC in April 2022, the King Stallion has already been used multiple times to execute its Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) mission,” said Fleeger. TRAP is one of the core missions of the CH-53K.
HMH-461 self-supported on this trip by using a second CH-53K from the squadron to refuel via Air-Delivered Ground Refueling (ADGR).
“The CH-53K is not merely an upgrade of the CH-53E,” said Bagley, “it represents a fundamental shift in how Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadrons can enable warfighting concepts like distributed aviation operations and maritime operations in a contested environment.”
“This is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that we have been called upon to complete a mission that only this aircraft can undertake,” he added. “This squadron remains ready and eager for the opportunity to provide this critical capability wherever it is needed most.”
BF-01
The first F-35B, BF-01, flew on Jun. 11, 2008. The first vertical landing of an F-35 was done by this aircraft on Mar. 18th, 2010 by pilot Graham Tomlinson at NAS Patuxent River. BF-01 flew other historic flights: the first F-35 vertical takeoff and the first STOVL flight.
Thanks to the F-35B, for the first time in aviation history, supersonic, radar-evading stealth comes with short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The F-35B has unequaled basing flexibility and advanced network-enabled mission systems that provide unprecedented multimission capability across the spectrum of operations and is an essential enabler for other forces in the battlespace. The F-35B redefines the multirole fighter.
Increasingly, modern security challenges require wider distribution of forces and capabilities across a range of scenarios. STOVL capability gives the F-35B the unique capability to operate from a variety of ships, roads and austere bases near frontline combat zones, greatly enhancing sortie generation rates. The unmatched basing of the F-35B – ashore and afloat – provides more employment flexibility in any scenario.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo
