The CH-53D Sea Stallion Helicopter has seen over 4 decades of combat dating back to the Vietnam war in 1969. But, this week will mark the end of the aircrafts long run of service.
"That's amazing, over 40 years of service that's got to be something said for this design and the new models showing up," says April Emerson, Pacific Aviation Museum Events Manager.
This helicopter has been a big part of the military presence in Hawaii. All Marine CH-53D helicopters still used operationally are stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe. Designed specifically to transport personnel, supplies and equipment during ship to shore operations.
"When the aircraft is in flying mode, rigged to go, with blades spread, it is an impressive sight, quite sizeable to be up alongside of," says Ken Dewey, Pacific Aviation museum Barnstorming Tour,
Dewey was a Marine pilot fortunate enough to fly one of these.
"The A model was pretty old by the time I got to fly it. That wasn't until 1989 when I first started flying but it was still a viable piece of equipment and still worked well and I enjoyed the capability of hovering," he says.
But, all good things must come to an end. The military plans to replace the CH-53D with the MV-22 Osprey. The Osprey can fly twice as fast, can carry 3 times the payload and fly 5 times as far.
"It's like saying goodbye to an old sister and hi to a new sister," says Dewey.
The Pacific Aviation Museum will be hosting day two of a three day Retirement Celebration for the Sea Stallion this Friday. A CH-53D helicopter will be put on display as part of the museum's growing collection of aircraft.
"This is an actually modern aircraft so for them to see we don't only have the World War 2 history and the early aviation in Hawaii but also see that we're growing our collection and showing some of the models they may be flying, their parents may have flown it's exciting for everybody," says Emerson.
The public is welcomed to tour the Pacific Aviation Museum to check out the retired CH-53D Sea Stallion up close.
