Practice Makes Perfect: GE-powered Sikorsky CH-53K Advanced Training Suite Unveiled
December 07, 2020 | by Cole Massie
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, announced in early December that the U.S. Marines are now preparing to fly, maintain and sustain the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy lift helicopter. The CH-53K, powered by three GE Aviation T408 engines, has a suite of training devices and was recently declared Ready For Training.
In addition to a portable full-mission flight simulator, students will have access to a computer-based Helicopter Emulation Maintenance Trainer (HEMT), which familiarizes mechanics with the maintenance tasks in a virtual environment. The final training step is the Composite Maintenance Trainer (CMT), a full-scale mock-up of the CH-53K aircraft, including replicas of its three T408 engines. Training will begin at Marine Air Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
David Karcher, a Lockheed Martin senior specialist mechanic explained, “The benefit to a trainer like this is to create an environment that is somewhat realistic to a real aircraft but has safety in mind.”
https://youtu.be/x_xPDFt2sCw?list=PLqa9423Jd9Mq3blpTF08c2LZDJbRvPpMQ
GE’s T408 was designed with maintainability in mind. The engine is modular, with sealed oil sumps and an accessible gearbox for ease of field maintenance. It also had a rugged compressor with split casing and erosion coating to minimize engine removals and keep the CH-53K ready for a diverse set of mission demands.
This engine gives the CH-53K the power to carry a 27,000-pound external load over a mission radius of 110 nautical miles in hot weather conditions, nearly triple the external load carrying capacity of current aircraft.
Photo and video courtesy of Sikorsky
In addition to a portable full-mission flight simulator, students will have access to a computer-based Helicopter Emulation Maintenance Trainer (HEMT), which familiarizes mechanics with the maintenance tasks in a virtual environment. The final training step is the Composite Maintenance Trainer (CMT), a full-scale mock-up of the CH-53K aircraft, including replicas of its three T408 engines. Training will begin at Marine Air Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
David Karcher, a Lockheed Martin senior specialist mechanic explained, “The benefit to a trainer like this is to create an environment that is somewhat realistic to a real aircraft but has safety in mind.”
https://youtu.be/x_xPDFt2sCw?list=PLqa9423Jd9Mq3blpTF08c2LZDJbRvPpMQ
GE’s T408 was designed with maintainability in mind. The engine is modular, with sealed oil sumps and an accessible gearbox for ease of field maintenance. It also had a rugged compressor with split casing and erosion coating to minimize engine removals and keep the CH-53K ready for a diverse set of mission demands.
This engine gives the CH-53K the power to carry a 27,000-pound external load over a mission radius of 110 nautical miles in hot weather conditions, nearly triple the external load carrying capacity of current aircraft.
Photo and video courtesy of Sikorsky
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