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)

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Hot-loading a F-35

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct the first ever hot load on the F-35B Lightning II in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) 1-17 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Sept. 22, 2016. The exercise is part of WTI 1-17, a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) cadre. MAWTS-1 provides standardized tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by SSgt. Artur Shvartsberg, MAWTS-1 COMCAM)
U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct the first ever hot load on the F-35B Lightning II in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) 1-17 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Sept. 22, 2016. The exercise is part of WTI 1-17, a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) cadre. MAWTS-1 provides standardized tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by SSgt. Artur Shvartsberg, MAWTS-1 COMCAM)

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U.S. Marines forced to hire civilian contractor for their jumps

The 2nd Marine Division in North Carolina has been forced to hire a skydiving company this month so that Marines from 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion can get jump time before deployment.

US Navy 060330-M-4657S-001 Force Reconnaissance Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC) freefall over Djibouti, during parachute training
By U.S. Navy photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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