Thailandscale144: 1/144 Sikorsky HH-53C Jolly Green Giant USAF

3/28/2012

1/144 Sikorsky HH-53C Jolly Green Giant USAF

The HH-53B was essentially an interim type, with production quickly moving on to the modestly improved Air Force HH-53C CSAR variant. The most visible difference between the HH-53B and HH-53C was that the HH-53C dispensed with the fuel-tank bracing struts. Experience with the HH-53B showed that the original tank was too big, adversely affecting performance when they were fully fueled, and so a smaller 450 US gal (1,703 L) tank was adopted in its place. Other changes included more armor and a more comprehensive suite of radios to improve communications with C-130 tankers, attack aircraft supporting CSAR actions, and aircrews awaiting rescue on the ground. The HH-53C was otherwise much like the HH-53B, with the more powerful T64-GE-7 engines.

A HH-53 seen from the gunner's position of a helicopter over Vietnam in October 1972

A total of 44 HH-53Cs were built, with introduction to service in August 1968. Late in the war they were fitted with countermeasures pods to deal with heat-seeking missiles. As with the HH-53B, the HH-53C was also used for covert operations and snagging reentry capsules, as well as snagging reconnaissance drones. A few were assigned to support the Apollo space program, standing by to recover an in case of a launchpad abort, though such an accident never happened.
In addition to the HH-53Cs, the Air Force obtained 20 CH-53C helicopters for more general transport work. The CH-53C was apparently very similar to the HH-53C, even retaining the rescue hoist, the most visible difference being that the CH-53C did not have an in-flight refueling probe. Since CH-53Cs were used for covert operations, they were armed and armored like HH-53Cs. A good number of Super Jollies were converted into Pave Low special-operations helicopters. or Pave is a USAF code name for a number of weapons systems using advanced electronics.

1/144th ScaleModel Sikorsky HH-53C Jolly Green Giant / USAF,AirWar Over Veitnam series

Kits: Revell (Rare kits!)

Specifications (CH,HH-53s)

General characteristics

Crew: 2 pilots, 1 or more crew chiefs
Capacity: 38 troops (55 in alternate configuration) or 24 stretchers
Length: 88 ft 6 in (26.97 m)
Rotor diameter: 72 ft 2.8 in (22.01 m)
Height: 24 ft 11 in (7.6 m)
Disc area: 4098.1 sq ft (380.48 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 0011 MOD
Empty weight: 23,628 lb (10,740 kg)
Loaded weight: 33,500 lb (15,227 kg)
Useful load: 8,000 lb (3,630 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 42,000 lb (19,100 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T64-GE-413 turboshaft, 3,925 shp (2,927 kW) each
Width (stub wings): 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
Width (fuselage): 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m)
Rotor systems: 6 blades on main rotor