Current H53 Photo

[Ray Norton]

Interesting photo. Note the drop tanks, added antennas, paint and other new stuff. I can't tell if it is a "D" or an "E."

http://flightaware.com/photos/view/293956-86ac962a455aeef7dd79f4f2560db5fe7b91d4d3/today/sort/date/page/1

[Mike Amtower]

Ray,

Those are Ds.....only two engines and the tail is vertical.

.... and if you look REAL CLOSE, only 6 main blades instead of 7.

The latest version of the S-65 to be built is the CH-53E Super Stallion for the US Navy.
This is a much modified version with three 4380shp General Electric T64-GE-416 engines
and strengthened transmission to withstand the increase in power. The fuselage is about
2m longer than that of the CH-53D and the tail pylon is canted to port. The main rotor has
also been improved and has seven composite blades (its predecessor had six light alloy ones).
Thirty-three CH-53Es were initially ordered by the Marines and 16 by the US Navy. The type
is still in production.

http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/sik_s-80.php

[Wild Snide]

That's HMH-362, my old unit, out of K-Bay Hawaii. They fly D's till the K's come on line. They are currently scheduled to be the first fleet squadron to get the K's when they are ready.