The latest Florida-founded Valiant Sky Command Art gallery has actually added the U.S. Navy’s massive MH-53E Water Dragon to help you their collection.

To the Oct 16, Chopper Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) twelve embarked towards the a significant objective to Titusville, Fl, to present an enthusiastic MH-53E Sea Dragon chopper to your Federal Naval Aviation Art gallery (NNAM). So it renowned routes tend to today get on loan towards Valiant Heavens Demand (VAC), enriching the newest aviation museum’s collection.

“We’re happy to understand the Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) area portrayed within this art gallery,” told you HM-a dozen Commanding Officer Capt. Eric Johnson. “For almost all, AMCM is an excellent lifelong career. I’ve recommended the HM-several Mariners so you can ‘Become Legacy’-an indication so you’re able to honor the origin put from the men and women in advance of united states on the mine countermeasures society in addition to Navy.”

The ocean Dragon, today housed in the VAC Warbird Sky Art gallery, will stay towards permanent mortgage away from NNAM. Slope Goodspeed, NNAM’s deputy director, showcased the importance of venture which have companion galleries to expand this new reach of naval aviation history. “The Federal Naval Aviation Museum’s founding mission within the 1962 would be to ‘get a hold of, gather, uphold, and you may display’ items one portray Naval Aviation’s storied early in the day,” said Goodspeed. The fresh new induction ceremony celebrated the latest rich heritage of your MH-53E Water Dragon and you may honored the new sacrifices ones who’ve offered. Col. Kate Fleeger, Program Director into the H-53 Hefty Lift Helicopters System Work environment (PMA-261), highlighted the sea Dragon’s critical character.

“For pretty much 40 years, brand new MH-53 could have been a Navy workhorse from the Airborne Mine Countermeasures goal,” Chicago personal loans Fleeger said. “Past the AMCM requirements, the ocean Dragon has actually offered heavier-elevator procedures, brought mail and you will offers regarding the Persian Gulf, helped inside disaster rescue, and also fought fires playing with liquids stores bladders-Bambi Buckets.”

Chopper Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) a dozen embarked with the a serious goal so you’re able to Titusville, Fl, October. sixteen, where they theoretically presented an enthusiastic MH-53E Sea Dragon chopper into the Federal Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM), that is towards loan to Valiant Air Command inside Titusville. Attendees spoke towards the pilots and aircrew following MH-53E visited the latest art gallery. Photos from the Jennifer Cragg

Valiant Heavens Demand Welcomes MH-53E Ocean Dragon Helicopter

Since the the beginning in 1977, the latest Warbird Heavens Museum into the Titusville is continuing to grow owing to aviation enthusiasts, experts, and pilots dedicated to preserving America’s aviation history. Brand new coming of your MH-53E scratching a historic time, as it’s the initial-and perhaps just-Ocean Dragon are presented from inside the an art gallery means. Even if twenty-eight MH-53E helicopters stay-in provider, the fresh new collection is placed to start phasing out in 2025, which have complete later years questioned by the 2027. Capt. Johnson mirrored on aircraft’s heritage. “It is a great servers to travel, and it is a lot more unbelievable to see the entire squadron already been to one another to do this,” said Johnson. “The sea Dragon might have been an important tool getting tactical strategies and you may a proper deterrent, ensuring shipment lanes remain free of ocean mines.”

While the the inclusion during the 1986, the newest MH-53E Ocean Dragon could have been pivotal in exploit countermeasures and you can heavy-lift functions. Dressed up that have state-of-the-art tech, and additionally exploit-hunting sonar and you can detonation products, the sea Dragon have secured naval fleets whilst hauling troops and you will products. The ocean Dragon could be an effective center of attention on Warbird Museum, dedicated to retaining aviation background to possess generations to come. Bonnie Towne, NNAM’s section off contact, played a switch character within the facilitating this historical transfer. DRAGON 437 (BuNo 163066), shortly after serving for almost forty years with Chopper Exploit Countermeasures Squadron 12 might possibly be ready to feel shown on Valiant Heavens Demand Warbird Art gallery very early next year.

The ocean Dragon, nicknamed “Joanna” did an excellent flyby the newest Kennedy Place Cardio. Photos via Valiant Air Demand Warbird Art gallery/ Deprive Shaw