WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion completed an external lift of a 36,000 pound (16,239 kg) payload at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center, achieving a maximum weight on the single center point cargo hook.

This milestone marks completion of critical flight envelope expansion activities for the CH-53K as Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, prepares to deliver the first aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps this year.

The CH-53K lifted the external load into a hover followed by flight demonstrating satisfactory handling qualities and structural margins. The gross weight of the aircraft topped out at just over 91,000 pounds (41,277 kg), making this the heaviest helicopter ever flown by Sikorsky.

Prior to the 36,000 pound. lift, the CH-53K lifted various external payloads up to 27,000 pounds (12,247 kg). including a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The CH-53K can carry a 27,000 pound external load over 110 nautical miles in high/hot conditions, which is more than triple the external load carrying capacity of the legacy CH-53E aircraft. Other flight envelope accomplishments include tethered hover demonstrating flight speeds to 200 knots, angle of bank to 60 degrees, takeoffs and landings from sloped surfaces up to 12 degrees, external load auto-jettison, and gunfire testing.

The CH-53K is also garnering international interest. Rheinmetall and Sikorsky recently signed a strategic teaming agreement to offer the CH-53K for Germany's new heavy lift helicopter competition. Additional teammates will be announced in the coming weeks leading up to the aircraft's debut at the ILA Berlin Air Show in April.

Source: Lockheed Martin