Two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters have collided off Hawaii (12 Marines missing)

Aviationist ^ | Jan 15 2016 | David Cenciotti

[MplsSteve]

Oh, that’s not good at all.

(shaking head...)

[MeganC]

Why does the military have their aircraft fly in such close formation all the time? Seems to me it’s just asking for trouble.

[Jyotishi]

Related:

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3383949/posts

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3383986/posts

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Praying that all survive.

[rottndog]

Why does the military have their aircraft fly in such close formation all the time?

You train like you'll fight, so that when it's necessary, you will fight like you train. They fly in close formation because that's what's necessary during war time operations. Being in the military is in and of itself inherently dangerous, peace time or otherwise.

[Vaquero]

May they all survive. Horrible.

On a snarky note....were they carrying any birth certificates?

[TNoldman]

This type of incident seems to happen too frequently. One time is too many.

Prayers up for all involved.

It’s similar to Air Show crashes.

[Churchillspirit]

Praying that all survive.

Amen.

[MeganC]

That makes sense. Thank you.

[Travis McGee]

How many 53’s we got left? How many at the most, and when? About.

Crouching in a dark field in NC, totally silent, then watching a 53 come down into an LZ was an amazing experience. Like the mothership descending.

[rottndog]

CH-53 Sea Stallion:

[yarddog]

They are a beautiful sight. This one flew right over while I was sitting on the porch.

Don't know if you can read it but it says "Marines" on the side. It was heading SW, probably to Pensacola, maybe Eglin.

Hope for the best but fear it is bad.

[rottndog]

I lived on a USMC helicopter base (MCAS Tustin) in the early 70s....base housing was in the flight path between the blimp hangars and MCAS El Toro a few miles away. I could always tell what was flying overhead....the Jolly Green Giants (CH-53s) would shake the whole house. Very impressive indeed.

[don-o]

Happened around 0500 ET, I think. Thanks for posting.

I kept meaning to

[Spktyr]

We only built 234 CH-53Es (which are significantly different than the CH-53D - for starters, the E has three engines instead of two), but the CH-53 line is still in existence. Sikorsky is working on the CH-53K King Stallion (it’s already flying) and the Marines will buy 200 of them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_CH-53K_King_Stallion

[RicocheT]

A very sad loss. Formation flying is always a difficult air maneuver and at night even more difficult. They do it to reduce the radar signature, but it’s so sad when it goes wrong. May God welcome these brave Marines into Paradise and may he comfort the families of those lost or hurt.

[Squantos]

2008 the USAF PJ’s / SAR Special tactics sorts replaced theirs with the tilt rotor from Bell..... not sure if reserves or air guard got some or not but pretty sure the CV22 replaced all HH53’s..... I yield to active duty SME’s !

Sorry Travis ....

[FoxInSocks]

That helicopter is from HMT-302, the Marine Corps training squadron. They were flying 53D’s in southern CA in the early nineties, but they have since upgraded to Echoes and are currently at MCAS New River, NC.

Great shot!

[don-o]

Why was this removed from BN sidebar? I know it happened 12 hrs ago. But don’t think it had been posted.

Silly polls are sidebar worthy. But 12 likely dead Marines are not?

SMH.