Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion is a heavy transport helicopter of American production of a metal structure of a classic layout with propellers on the carrying and tail beams. The drive is provided by two General Electric T-64-GE-413 engines with a capacity of 3925 km each. The flight of the first prototype took place in 1964, and serial production continued in 1966-1978. According to estimates, about 510 copies of this helicopter were built. The Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion was created in response to a tender for a new transport helicopter announced by the Marine Corps in 1959. The new machine had to be able to launch freely, have a loading harness in the rear part of the hull and carry about 50-60 soldiers. The machine of the Sikorsky concern met all these criteria. In the course of serial production, many modifications of this very solid helicopter were created. One of them was the CH-53D version with a stronger hull design, better performance and higher payload. The other was a search and rescue version designated CH-53GE. There were also versions intended for foreign recipients, with modified avionics or engines (for example, the CH-53G, created for the needs of German ground forces). The CH-53 helicopter took an active part in the Vietnam War (1964/1965-1975). It is also exported to several countries including Austria, Germany, Israel and Mexico.
