HH-53D JOLLY GREEN GIANT MODEL

The Sikorsky HH-53 or the Super Jolly Green Giant was ordered by the USAF for Search and Rescue operations. The Sikorsky HH-53 is the USAF version of the CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter. The main reason for the development of Sikorsky HH-53 is to replace the HH-3 which is also called the Jolly Green Giant. Later on, the Sikorsky HH-53 was upgraded to MH-53.

A lot of Sikorsky HH-53 variants were produced, such as the HH-53B which has a retractable in-flight refueling probe on the right side of the nose, the HH-53C which was an interim type that dispenses with the fuel tank bracing struts, the MH-53H which retained the in-flight refueling probe, external fuel tanks, rescue hoist and three gun armament, the MH-53J which is the largest and most powerful Sikorsky HH-53 variant produced by the US Air Force and the MH-53M has been modified with the Interactive Defensive Avionics System.

On March 15, 1967, the Sikorsky HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant made its first flight at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The Sikorsky HH-53 was faster and had tripled the take off of the HH-3. Other than that, the Sikorsky HH-53 was larger, more heavily armed and with almost double the shaft horsepower. Thus, the Sikorsky HH-53 had better overall performance and hover capability.