The deployment of the CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft to North Africa this month for Operation Flintlock 09 overshadows the retirement of the long-serving MH-53 Pave Low helicopter. The final Pave Low mission was flow in Iraq in September by the Air Forces 20th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron.
Once numbering 39 helicopters, the Pave Low fleet was employed around the world for low-level missions to insert and take out special forces as well as for Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) operations. The Sikorsky H-53 series is the largest helicopter flown in the West, with the largest (three-turboshaft) H-53E variants also flown by the U.S. Navy (MH-53E) and Marine Corps (CH-53E).
The Air Force retired the last MH-53M Pave Low IV variants — all upgraded from earlier models — in September. The Air Force is acquiring 50 Bell-Boeing CV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft for the special operations role. The CV-22 and MH-53 are roughly the same size (but with very different configurations); however, the Osprey is much faster and has a greater range, and is provided with an in-flight refueling capability. (In July 2006 two MV-22s flew across the Atlantic in the first trans-ocean flight of the aircraft.)
The Marine Corps has already forward deployed its Osprey variant, the MV-22. In October 2007 the Marines sent ten MV-22s to Iraq, where they continue to operate. The Marines have a requirement for 360 MV-22s for the assault and combat support missions, replacing the long-serving CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter. (The original Marine requirement — developed during the Cold War era — was for 552 MV-22 aircraft.) The Marines currently have four MV-22 deployable squadrons plus a transition squadron, with a schedule to activate two additional squadrons per year.
At a press conference last May, Marine officials cited the excellent record of the MV-22 in Iraq. During a seven-month period the unit — with ten aircraft — flew 2,500 sorties, with each averaging 62 hours per month. Pre-deployment forecasts were that the MV-22s would fly about 50 hours per month. Maintenance time was 9.5 hours per flight hour (compared to 24 hours for the CH-46E).
The U.S. Navy has a requirement for 48 HV-22 aircraft for the CSAR role. But the Navy has yet to fund procurement of those aircraft. Thus, the probable near-term U.S. buy of V-22 Ospreys is on the order of 400 to 450 aircraft.
At times the U.S. Army has also expressed interest in the V-22, with some official statements having cited about 230 aircraft for the medical evacuation role as well as for Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA). Again, there are no near-term procurement plans. And, several other countries have expressed interest in eventual procurement of the tilt-rotor aircraft.
Perhaps further into the future, various Bell Boeing studies have indicated the feasibility of anti-submarine (SV-22) and airborne early warning (EV-22) variants. Such aircraft could operate from the Navys large aircraft carriers as well as from LHA/LHD-type VSTOL carriers.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
So after all the bad rap the V-22 will finally take-off, as it were. There’s definately a (European) market for shipborne ASW, EW and AEW variants, but especially the latter variant will cause a lot of technical headaches with potential to drive the price prohibitively up.
I would’ve preferred the Osprey to have a better cargoload, but as it is, its a nice plane. Just with a whopping pricetag (compared to say the AW-101).
I think it’s time to getter going. Full speed ahead. Safety frist!
As a former MH-53 PAVELOW driver it was sad to see the “great beast” retired. It served with distinction from the Vietnam War to Iraqi/Enduring Freedom.
Produce more Ospreys (some for Civil use)
Expand line more.
Cut Prod costs alone.
We need more V22s.
Have V22 for MARINE ONE
V22 for 2020 White House use?
Because of attrition due to combat and age and the repeated recycling and remanufacturing of the airframes, just about the entire Pave Low fleet has a history worthy of displaying in an honored place within any aircraft collection.
I’d like to see all of the ones that remain put out to stud in major aerospace museums.
Norman–That 2006 “cross the pond” jaunt….didn’t exactly go without a hitch:
The only sour note so far during the V-22′s appearance in England, which began last week with flight demonstrations at the far smaller Royal International Air Tattoo air show 75 miles away in Fairford, was a precautionary landing one Osprey made in Iceland on the way over.
That aircraft suffered compressor stalls in its right engines, leading its pilots to divert to Keflavik, where the suspect engine was replaced with a spare that had been stationed in England in advance.
The engine replacement took 36 hours, Gen. Castellaw said.
The compressor stalls appeared to be related to “weather conditions that we didn’t anticipate,” Gen. Castellaw said.
On its way
The Block A model V-22s flown to England lack anti-icing gear installed on the Block B Ospreys the Marines will deploy next year, he said.
But he offered that the diversion did nothing to dampen the Marines’ pride in getting two V-22s to England by flying them from Goose Bay, Canada, with two aerial refueling tankers that refilled their tanks three times on the way – the Osprey’s first trans-Atlantic trip.
“We got two aircraft over here,” he said. “When we fly them back, we’re going to be a little bit more careful where we fly into weather.
july 18 Dallas Morning News 2006
Yeah, no shit GEN Castellaw. Working as a Aviation Weather Forecaster, I can assure you that the pilot in command for that flight should have taken the Forecaster’s warning a little more seriously; especially with an up-and-coming aircraft lacking anti-icing equipment. Just another case of ignorance brought to you by U.S. “Flyboys”
Pave Low Leads!
The 53 how will we miss thee. I remember the first time I saw one flying low to the Ranger School when I was in boot at Benning, thinking “what the @#$% is that giant thing?”.
just speculation, but i suspect that during the aborted ship rescue off Galveston, the ’53 was recalled so as not to show up incapable V-22′s. As the fighter mafia demonstrated, higher, faster, further doesn’t necessarily give you the best aircraft for the job.
I have had the great privelage of having flown on the MH53 (Navy) out of Barber Point Hawaii on several occasions for various resons and I can say without pause that the V-22 does not hold a candle to that class of Helo. I was also able to catch a ride on a Pave Low III from Tampa McDill to Hurlbert Field in Fl and I spent the entire 2 1/2 hour flight with my jaw hanging. The FE was nice enough to describe the features of that fantastic bird. Top Notch! They had better keep those retired birds close because they will be called on again.
If you would like to learn more about the USAF H-53 (MH-53M PAVE LOW), please visit http://www.thepavecave.com.
Sincerely,
Vince
Webmaster for The Pave Cave
why were pave lows retired? they seem like such a capable machine.