1/144 MH-53 J PAVE LOW / USAF

The MH-53 Pave Low is a variant of the US Air Force's Sikorsky HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant and the US Navy's CH-53 Sea Stallion. The MH-53 is used for long-range combat search and rescue (CSAR) and was developed to replace the HH-3 Jolly Green Giant. The HH-53s were later upgraded as MH-53 Pave Low series.

In May of 1980, the Air Force's newly operational fleet of nine HH-53H Pave Low CSAR helicopters was abruptly transferred to the special operations forces in response to the failed Iranian hostage rescue attempt and the lack of dedicated long-range vertical lift platforms. Throughout the 1980s, the Pave Low fleet grew to 41 helicopters and expanded from the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field to include the 21st and 31st Special Operations Squadrons in Europe and East Asia, respectively, in addition to a dedicated training squadron, the 551st Special Operations Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, NM.

The MH-53H evolved into the MH-53J with the fleet expansion and Pave Low development culminated with the fielding of the MH-53M in the late 1990s. During its operational life, the men who flew the Pave Low conducted innumerable missions of national importance. Among a host of other missions, they played an important role in the invasion of Panama in 1989; led the first missions of the 1991 and 2003 wars in Iraq; rescued a US pilot in Iraq in 1990; evacuated the American Embassy in Liberia in 1996; led the successful rescue missions for both US pilots shot down in Serbia in 1999; conducted the longest-ever helicopter rescues at sea in the North Atlantic in 1989 and 2002; flew daring raids in Afghanistan in 2001-2002; seized strategic oil pumping facilities in Iraq in 2003; and led scores of dangerous missions in Iraq from 2003 until the end of Pave Low operations.

Fitting of the rich history of the beloved "steel horse," during the sunset of her service life, the MH-53 and her crews flew in combat for the final seven years of their valorous service. This aircraft, 68-10928, flew its last mission in combat in Iraq in the summer of 2007. It was maintained, launched, and recovered by the men and women of the 1st Special Operations Helicopter Maintenance Squadron, and was flown by the men of the 20th Special Operations Squadron.
Link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3TrHyHrgQY

1/144th Scale Model Helicoptor Combat Serch and Rescue (CSAR) MH-53 J Pave low USAF

Kits: Revell (Germany) CH-53 G Scratchbuild to MH-53 J (Use by Epoxy resin, plastic sheet,metal part, Etc.)
Model by : Supawat Putthitornworasit copyright 2011