The Florida-established Valiant Heavens Order Museum features additional the brand new U.S. Navy’s enormous MH-53E Water Dragon in order to its collection.
Towards the Oct sixteen, Helicopter Exploit Countermeasures Squadron (HM) twelve embarked with the a life threatening goal in order to Titusville, Fl, to present a keen MH-53E Ocean Dragon helicopter to the National Naval Aviation Art gallery (NNAM). Which renowned aircraft will now get on financing to the Valiant Air Command (VAC), enriching the fresh new aviation museum’s range.
We’re happy to understand the Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) neighborhood portrayed contained in this museum, said HM-12 Dominating Manager Capt. Eric Johnson. For almost all, AMCM are a great lifelong occupation. I have urged our HM-several Mariners to Become Legacy’-an indication to award the origin laid by people in advance of all of us regarding the mine countermeasures area while the Navy.
The ocean Dragon, today situated within VAC Warbird Sky Art gallery, will stay towards long lasting mortgage out of NNAM. Slope Goodspeed, NNAM’s deputy movie director, emphasized the necessity of cooperation having companion galleries so you’re able to increase new come to off naval aviation records. The brand new Federal Naval Aviation Museum’s founding objective for the 1962 would be to get a hold of, gather, uphold, and you will display’ artifacts one to portray Naval Aviation’s storied earlier in the day, told you Goodspeed. This new induction ceremony prominent the rich history of your MH-53E Sea Dragon and honored this new sacrifices of them with offered. Col. Kate Fleeger, System Director toward H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261), emphasized the sea Dragon’s crucial character.
For nearly 40 years, the brand new MH-53 has been a Navy workhorse about Airborne Exploit Countermeasures goal, Fleeger told you. Beyond the AMCM duties, the sea Dragon enjoys served heavy-lift surgery, put send and provides on Persian Gulf of mexico, helped for the crisis save, plus battled fires playing with liquids shop bladders-Bambi Buckets.
Chopper Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) several embarked towards a significant objective so you’re able to Titusville, Florida, Oct. 16, where it theoretically demonstrated an MH-53E Water Dragon helicopter for the Federal Naval Aviation Art gallery (NNAM), and is towards the financing so you’re able to Valiant Heavens Order during the Titusville. Attendees talked with the pilots and you will aircrew following the MH-53E arrive at the new art gallery. Photo by Jennifer Cragg
Valiant Sky Command Embraces MH-53E Sea Dragon Helicopter
Because their beginning into the 1977, the new Warbird Air Art gallery during the Titusville has grown owing to aviation fans, veterans, and pilots serious about preserving America’s aviation record. Brand new coming of the MH-53E scratches a historical time, since it is the first-and possibly just-Ocean Dragon become displayed in a museum mode. Regardless of if twenty-eight MH-53E helicopters stay-in services, the brand new fleet is defined to begin with phasing call at 2025, that have full old age asked from the 2027. Capt. Johnson new london home improvement loan reflected towards aircraft’s legacy. Its an incredible host to help you fly, and it’s really way more unbelievable observe the complete squadron come together to do this, told you Johnson. The sea Dragon might have been an essential equipment to have tactical logistics and you can a strategic discouraging factor, ensuring distribution lanes will still be free from sea mines.
Because the addition in the 1986, this new MH-53E Ocean Dragon has been pivotal in exploit countermeasures and you will heavy-lift functions. Outfitted with advanced technology, and mine-google search sonar and detonation products, the sea Dragon features protected naval fleets while also transporting troops and you will gadgets. The ocean Dragon could well be good focal point at Warbird Art gallery, intent on retaining aviation history for future generations. Bonnie Towne, NNAM’s section off contact, starred a button part into the assisting which historic import. DRAGON 437 (BuNo 163066), once helping for nearly forty years with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 12 would be ready to be presented within Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum very early next season.
The ocean Dragon, nicknamed Joanna did a beneficial flyby the Kennedy Area Cardio. Photos via Valiant Heavens Order Warbird Art gallery/ Rob Shaw