Brand new Florida-created Valiant Heavens Order Art gallery have added the brand new U.S. Navy’s big MH-53E Water Dragon in order to the collection.
Towards the October sixteen, Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) several embarked toward a significant mission so you’re able to Titusville, Florida, to present an MH-53E Water Dragon chopper towards the National Naval Aviation Art gallery (NNAM). Which legendary flights commonly today get on financing towards Valiant Heavens Command (VAC), enriching the aviation museum’s range.
“The audience is very happy to comprehend the Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) community portrayed within art gallery,” said HM-several Dominating Administrator Capt. Eric Johnson. “For the majority, AMCM try good lifelong career. I’ve advised the HM-a dozen Sailors so you can ‘Become Legacy’-an indication so you’re able to award the foundation laid because of the men and women just before you regarding mine countermeasures society therefore the Navy.”
The sea Dragon, today situated from the VAC Warbird Heavens Art gallery, will remain on permanent loan regarding NNAM. Mountain Goodspeed, NNAM’s deputy director, highlighted the importance of collaboration with mate museums so you’re able to develop the latest arrived at regarding naval aviation record. “New National Naval Aviation Museum’s beginning objective inside 1962 were to ‘see, assemble, maintain, and you can display’ items one show Naval Aviation’s storied early in the day,” told you Goodspeed. New induction ceremony renowned new steeped history of your own MH-53E Ocean Dragon and honored the new sacrifices of those who possess served. Col. Kate Fleeger, Program Movie director on the H-53 Heavier Lift Helicopters Program Workplace (PMA-261), emphasized the sea Dragon’s crucial character.
“For nearly 40 years, the brand new MH-53 could have been a great Navy workhorse regarding the Airborne Exploit Countermeasures purpose,” Fleeger said. “Beyond their AMCM requirements, the ocean Dragon features supported heavy-elevator procedures, put mail and you may provides regarding Persian Gulf of mexico, assisted in disaster rescue, and even fought fires using water stores bladders-Bambi Buckets.”
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) twelve embarked towards the a critical mission to Titusville, Florida, October. online installment loans Arkansas sixteen, where it theoretically demonstrated an MH-53E Sea Dragon chopper on Federal Naval Aviation Art gallery (NNAM), that will be to the financing so you’re able to Valiant Air Demand into the Titusville. Attendees talked into pilots and you may aircrew adopting the MH-53E started to the fresh new museum. Pictures from the Jennifer Cragg
Valiant Heavens Demand Welcomes MH-53E Water Dragon Chopper
Due to the fact their beginning when you look at the 1977, the brand new Warbird Sky Museum inside Titusville has exploded using aviation lovers, veterans, and you will pilots serious about sustaining America’s aviation record. This new arrival of your MH-53E scratching a historic minute, since it is the first-and maybe only-Ocean Dragon as exhibited in the a museum form. Even in the event twenty-eight MH-53E helicopters remain in provider, the brand new fleet is defined to start phasing call at 2025, that have full old age requested by 2027. Capt. Johnson reflected to your aircraft’s heritage. “It’s an unbelievable host so you can travel, and it’s more amazing observe the whole squadron already been together to make this happen,” said Johnson. “The sea Dragon could have been a significant unit to own tactical strategies and you will a strategic discouraging factor, making certain distribution lanes are clear of ocean mines.”
Since the its addition in 1986, new MH-53E Water Dragon might have been pivotal in exploit countermeasures and you can heavy-elevator operations. Dressed up which have state-of-the-art tech, plus exploit-browse sonar and you may detonation products, the sea Dragon has actually shielded naval fleets whilst hauling soldiers and you can products. The ocean Dragon could well be an effective center of attention within Warbird Art gallery, serious about preserving aviation history to have future generations. Bonnie Towne, NNAM’s section away from get in touch with, starred a button character into the facilitating it historical transfer. DRAGON 437 (BuNo 163066), immediately after serving for nearly 40 years that have Chopper Mine Countermeasures Squadron A dozen might be willing to be shown on Valiant Heavens Order Warbird Museum very early the following year.
The sea Dragon, nicknamed “Joanna” performed a flyby the latest Kennedy Place Center. Photographs via Valiant Heavens Demand Warbird Art gallery/ Rob Shaw
