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King Stallion Works with KC-130J on “Tail-to-Tail” Method of Logistical Support

06/21/2023
U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252 transfer supplies from a KC-130J Hercules into a CH-53K King Stallion assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 with an extended boom forklift - military millennium vehicle assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 29 at Marine Corps Air…

USMC Tail-to-tail Transfer of Supplies

06/21/2023
U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252 transfer supplies from a KC-130J Hercules into a CH-53K King Stallion assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, June 7, 2023. The tail-to-tail transfer of supplies allowed distribution of sustainment…

Flight Maneuver Exercise WTI 2-23

06/21/2023
U.S. Marine UH-1Y Venom helicopters, assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), conduct flight maneuver drills, during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-23, over Yuma, Arizona, April 6, 2023. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1, providing standardized advanced tactical training and certification of…

Aerial Deliveries and Air Assault Exercise at MAWTS-1

06/16/2023
U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), conduct aerial deliveries and air assault exercises during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-23 near Yuma, Arizona, April 1, 2023. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1, providing standardization advanced tactical training and certification of…

Placing the Re-configured Maintenance and Sustainment Enterprise into Strategic Context

06/14/2023
By Robbin Laird When looking at the coming of the CH-53K to the fleet, it is shaped considerably by the air systems approach. The aircraft has been guided throughout its life by a digital thread approach which is focused on concurrently shaping development, with testing, with build, with sustainment efforts…

Close Air Support Operations Training at MAWTS-1

06/14/2023
U.S. Marines assigned to Tactical Air Control Party, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), participate in a close air support exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-23 at Observation Point Feets, near Chocolate Mountains, California, March 30, 2023. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by…

Visiting the CH-53K Manufacturing Line Five Years Later: From 2018 to 2023

06/13/2023
By Robbin Laird I first visited the Sikorsky plant in Stratford, Connecticut in 2018 to view the beginning efforts to standup the production line for the new build CH-53K helicopter. I returned in May 2023 to see the progress in doing so as the CH-53K begins its journey to the…