CH-53K lifts first external load

The Sikorsky CH-53K has completed its first external load flight test Apr. 19, lifting a 12,000 pound external load in a hover.

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)

USMC KC-130Js refuel Spanish Hornets from 462 Squadron for the first time

Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets with 462 Squadron fly in formation during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets with 462 Squadron fly in formation during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets with 462 Squadron maintain formation during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets with 462 Squadron maintain formation during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets with 462 Squadron wait to be refueled during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets with 462 Squadron wait to be refueled during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron receives fuel from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa during an aerial refuel mission, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron receives fuel from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa during an aerial refuel mission, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron breaks off after receiving fuel from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa during an aerial refuel mission, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron breaks off after receiving fuel from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa during an aerial refuel mission, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron receives fuel from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa during an aerial refuel mission, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron receives fuel from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa during an aerial refuel mission, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron prepares to receive fuel during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron prepares to receive fuel during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)

Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets with 462 Squadron approach in formation during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets with 462 Squadron approach in formation during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
U.S. Marine Corps KC-130Js with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa carried out the first mid-air refueling training exercise with Spanish Air Force Hornets in Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29.

A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron refuels during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
A Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with 462 Squadron refuels during an air-to-air refuel mission with a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mar. 29, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Spanish airmen conducted air-to-air refueling missions in order to enhance crisis response readiness and help build relationships between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)

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