The CH-53K Program has successfully completed its first extended “cross country” flight from Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach facility to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD. This is the first of several flights as the King Stallion flight test program transitions to the flight test facilities at Patuxent River. Read more: http://lmt.co/2tRIvcq | Sikorsky

Take a tour of the United States' most powerful helicopter, the U.S. Marine Corps CH-53K King Stallion with Sikorsky Test Pilot Sean Maloney. Learn more: https://lmt.co/3pjo8Ua | Sikorsky

The CH-53K King Stallion achieved its first external lift flight, successfully carrying a 12,000 pound external load. As testing ramps up both of the current flying prototypes will be exercised to expand the external load envelope. Initial external payloads weighing 12,000 pounds will be flown first in hover and then incrementally to speeds up to 120 knots. The aircraft will then carry 20,000 and 27,000 pound external payloads. | Sikorsky