The fresh Florida-mainly based Valiant Heavens Order Art gallery keeps additional the brand new U.S. Navy’s massive MH-53E Sea Dragon to help you its collection.
Towards Oct 16, Chopper Exploit Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 12 embarked on the a serious mission to help you Titusville, Florida, to present an MH-53E Ocean Dragon helicopter for the National Naval Aviation Art gallery (NNAM). Which iconic flights usually today get on mortgage into Valiant Heavens Command (VAC), enriching the brand new aviation museum’s range.
We’re pleased to comprehend the Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) people depicted within this museum, told you HM-a dozen Dominating Administrator Capt. Eric Johnson. For almost all, AMCM was a lifelong occupation. You will find advised all of our HM-a dozen Mariners so you can End up being the Legacy’-a note so you’re able to award the foundation put by the those people in advance of you about mine countermeasures people in addition to Navy.
The ocean Dragon, today situated in the VAC Warbird Air Museum, will remain into the long lasting financing regarding NNAM. Mountain Goodspeed, NNAM’s deputy manager, highlighted the necessity of venture with partner museums to broaden brand new come to from naval aviation history. The new National Naval Aviation Museum’s founding objective inside 1962 were to come across, assemble, preserve, and display’ artifacts one to depict Naval Aviation’s storied previous, told you Goodspeed. Brand new induction ceremony popular the brand new steeped legacy of MH-53E Water Dragon and you will recognized the newest sacrifices of those with supported. Col. Kate Fleeger, System Manager toward H-53 Hefty Lift Helicopters Program Place of work (PMA-261), showcased the sea Dragon’s important character.
For nearly 40 years, this new MH-53 could have been a Navy workhorse regarding the Airborne Mine Countermeasures purpose, Fleeger said. Beyond its AMCM duties, the ocean Dragon has actually served heavy-lift businesses, introduced mail and you may offers on Persian Gulf, helped during the disaster recovery, and also battled fires playing with h2o storage bladders-Bambi Buckets.
Chopper Exploit Countermeasures Squadron (HM) a dozen embarked into a life threatening goal to Titusville, Fl, October. sixteen, in which they commercially presented an MH-53E Sea Dragon chopper to the National Naval Aviation Art gallery (NNAM), that will be for the mortgage so you can Valiant Sky Command for the Titusville. Attendees spoke on the pilots and you will aircrew after the MH-53E come to new museum. Photo by the Jennifer Cragg
Valiant Sky Demand Welcomes MH-53E Water Dragon Chopper
Due to the fact its founding into the 1977, the latest Warbird Heavens Museum into the Titusville has grown due to aviation enthusiasts, experts, and you may pilots intent on retaining America’s aviation record. The new coming of your own MH-53E scratches a historic time, because it’s the original-and possibly only-Sea Dragon to get presented during the a museum mode. Even if twenty-eight MH-53E helicopters remain in service, the fresh new fleet is defined to start phasing call at 2025, with full senior years questioned by 2027. Capt. Johnson reflected into aircraft’s legacy. It is an incredible servers to travel, and it’s really significantly more unbelievable observe the complete squadron become to each other to achieve this, said Johnson. The ocean Dragon has been an essential equipment having tactical logistics and you may a strategic discouraging factor, guaranteeing shipping lanes will still be free from water mines.
As the inclusion from installment loans online in Washington inside the 1986, the MH-53E Sea Dragon could have been pivotal both in exploit countermeasures and you will heavy-lift functions. Dressed with state-of-the-art technology, along with mine-bing search sonar and you will detonation devices, the sea Dragon features safeguarded naval fleets while also carrying soldiers and you will equipment. The ocean Dragon would-be a beneficial focal point during the Warbird Art gallery, dedicated to retaining aviation background having generations to come. Bonnie Towne, NNAM’s section off contact, starred a key part for the facilitating it historical import. DRAGON 437 (BuNo 163066), once serving for almost 40 years which have Chopper Mine Countermeasures Squadron Twelve would be happy to be demonstrated within Valiant Heavens Command Warbird Museum very early next season.
The ocean Dragon, nicknamed Joanna did a beneficial flyby the fresh new Kennedy Area Heart. Images via Valiant Heavens Demand Warbird Museum/ Rob Shaw
