Air International 2007-05
R.Burgess - US Marine Corps /Military/ (2)
A Bell UH-1N Iroquois of HMLA-775 - the unit has bases at MCAS Camp Pendleton and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The original plan was for these helicopters to be remanufactured into UH-1Y Venoms, however it has since been decided to build new aircraft.
Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 is tasked with providing helicopter transportation for the President of the United States, and top government officials. For this it uses the Sikorsky VH-60N Black Hawk (pictured) and VH-30 Sea King. Both types are due to be replaced by the VH-71A Kestrel, a version of the AgustaWestland EH101.
A Bell AH-1W Super Cobra lifts off from an airfield in Iraq for a mission in support of coalition forces. The AH-1W is armed with a 20mm rotary cannon and Hellfire missiles.
Bell Helicopter is re-manufacturing 180 AH-1Ws into AH-1Zs, with the new variant expected to reach initial operational capability in 2011. This AH-1Z is firing one of its Hellfire missiles and is also carrying a AIM-9 Sidewinder.
Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallions assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 are shown participating in an exercise in Hawaii. All three of the Marine Corps' CH-53D squadrons are based there will eventually be replaced by MV-22 Ospreys.
Bell-Boeing MV-22Bs are starting to replace CH-46Es, with the US Marine Corps intending to purchase 360 Ospreys. The silver scheme is being trialled as the paint weighs less than the grey currently in use and has a reduced infra-red signature.
A Boeing CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter lifts-off from the USS Kearsarge during training exercises. After more than four decades of service, the CH-46 is now being replaced by the Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey.
A US Marine Corps Lockheed Martin KC-130T Hercules refuels two Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions. These three-engined heavy-lift helicopters are able to carry 30 troops or 16 tons of cargo.