The USMC has a bunch of mothballed CH-53D's out in Arizona....whats about upgrading them? It is not as one really needs a boat hulled Helicopter for SAR work. Add some refueling probes....updated avionics....oh heck....just buy some new build MH-53's and be done with it.
Boeing might be convinced to build some more MH-47's.....just buy them off the shelf this time.
Last edited by SASless; 4th Aug 2012 at 16:13.