Sikorsky CH-53 A Sea Stallion Helicopter

[syphen90125]

WOW Impressive.

[User8571]

Seagull! Evasive action!

Actually, we've all seen the footage of tests done by turbofan engine manufacturers to see how they perform during a bird strike. They must do something similar for helo main rotors. Where's THAT video?

Tada! Salad Shooter!

[peepeevagi]

It's like watching a whale do acrobatics :U

[LarrrR46]

I was there the day this was shot. in fact, I unloaded the camera from the CH3 chase aircraft and carried the film up to Angelo to get it developed. I remember Frank Teft and Byron Graham well, as both were in the 'ABC' flight that crashed on the tarmac in '73. Both walked away, more or less unscathed. They were also involved in the very first Blackhawk prototype tests. These dudes were the real deal. Off the top of my head, this CH53A side number was 147709. Can anyone else remember this?

[idividedbyzer0]

Robert Guay (he's on the left from 0:04-0:12) is my grandad. There's an oil-painting of a helicopter in mid-roll in my house (says it's from his friends at Sikorsky Aircraft), but seeing actual video footage of it is super cool. Thanks for uploading - never would have seen it otherwise. :)

[IllustriousTech]

Want another unofficial story? I was stationed at Alameda, reserve squadron of 6 CH-53A. I was aircrew, Crew Chief. The reserve pilots would come out on the week ends and poke holes in the sky, 2 hours at a time.

We were about 5 - 6 miles out over the ocean, off the Frisco coast. The damn pilot did a barrel roll just to see if he could. I was standing at the door, and remember being squished down to the deck.

[IllustriousTech]

What year was it? 1976 maybe. We were aboard the USS Guam when we saw that video. HMH462, and that particular aircraft was down in the hanger deck as a hanger queen. Hanger Queens are units you strip off parts to keep other aircraft flying. Eagle Pull, my bird was left at Fatema and I became an E-5, 1st raggy on someone else's bird. Which was OK, I suppose, Crew Cheif and 2nd raggy were also E-5. It was just who was promoted when.

[Taka014]

i want to see my pilots at HM-14 pull this off

[Bubblemaker0]

Only the United States Marine Corp would have balls to do this way back when.

[1994saab9000]

wow that was in a alpha imagine what an echo could do with 3 engines and 7 blades

[bunkytony]

When I was in the Air Force, a pal of mine was in the marines. We were both tech RF and audio heads. He told me that on the rescue version H53 that in order to be heard of the massive turbo shaft engines, the PA amplifier that the crew and pilot could talk on to be heard "outside" the helicopter on the ground, the rescuee, the amplifier put out some 18,000 watts!! If thats true thats a lot of power WOW!

[fernfeyes]

One of our ground crew took a leak near the engine drains on the side. Then the FE came out (we didn't like him) and saw a puddle on the ground..bent over and tasted it with his finger, thinking it was a fuel or oil leak..we died laughing.

[kblackav8or]

@bunkytony That might be reference to the "loud hailer" which is a loudspeaker for helicopters. They can be used to yell at people on the ground etc.

[bunkytony]

Test pilot Art Scholl was good but he had nothing on Byron Graham!! I guess Graham broke the adage " there are old pilots, there are bold pilots, but there ain't no old bold pilots, I guess he stayed old and bold, WOW! That man new his cyclic and collective, a master pilot!!

[KD5XB]

They showed us this footage in Marine boot camp in 1977. At the time I suspected it was faked to play a joke on the recruits, but later found that it is true.

[katey1dog]

It reminds me of a whale leaping out of the sea.

[chiefblackhawk]

if I could do this, I would carry around a portable video player with this video on it. after people watched, i would unzip my flight suit (which i would always be wearing) and say "it's not going to suck itself" and they would be honored to accomodate me

[bushpig205]

I would like to shake your fathers hand

I also fly helicopters have done for nearly 22 years with more than 11000 hours so I can appreciate more than most whats involved I looped a 500 but don't consider it in the same league as this

peace

[chiefblackhawk]

Seriously, did he have to wear a special flight suit to accomodate his gigantic balls? To do something like that in a -53 is incredible. Both those pilots could probably impregnate a woman just by walking past her, and I believe Superman wears Byron Graham/Robert Guay pajamas

[chiefblackhawk]

Dude your dad is my hero. He's such a man, I'd be surprised if you came out of the womb unable to bench press anything less than 400 pounds. Seriously though, your stubble probably hurt your mom.

[ICCSF108]

I remember seeing a CH-53 Do a barrel roll like this in the summer of 69, I was on FSB Russell, I Corps Vietnam, 53 was coming from the DMZ heading toward, Vandergriff Combat Base. Thanks for the video & proof that I wasn't seeing things. Ken

[102trafalgar]

I seem to remember after this demostration the manouvre was subsequently banned? Great footage, lovely old bird! Long time ago now used to see one from Mildenhall U.K. I think. Loads of smoke and noise! Loved it. Thanks for video.

[nietzschesdreams]

Sikorsky borrowed 2 USMC birds from sqdn permanently based in Okinawa, changed t/r links, and gave air demo to JSDF to try to get sale. Had to change t/r links b/c damn Navy was too cheap to change thru out flt after accident. Put a/c back in sqdn aftr show. I flew in late 70's before sqdn rotation. Charlie ? was tech rep then?

[pbellone]

Very ballsy for an under power monster. I think I worked on her in Willow Grove PA.

[zukicreations]

That aircrafts name was BUFFY and last I saw her was on the Tarmac in Norfolk, Va by HM-12

[DerMessermann]

Thanks for your interesting information!

[jutct]

sweet