CH-53K successfully completed initial operational testing

NAVAIR declared that the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion helicopter has completed its initial operational testing.

The CH-53K King Stallion helicopter achieves its first flight with an external load at Sikorsky's Development Flight Test Center in West Palm Beach, FL. (PRNewsFoto/Lockheed Martin)
The CH-53K King Stallion helicopter achieves its first flight with an external load at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Test Center in West Palm Beach, FL. (PRNewsFoto/Lockheed Martin)

The two-week trials, called OT-B1, ended on Oct. 19 at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The heavy-lift helicopter proved that it could carry out multiple external lift scenarios of 27,000 lb. (12,200 kg) in-hover and 12,000 lb. (5,422 kg) 110 nautical mile radius missions.