Now I have seen everything, a CH-53 carrying a slung F35 while refuelling from a C130

[NutLoose]

I kid you not!

https://twitter.com/Roberto05246129/status/1783760793424613455

https://twitter.com/Roberto05246129/status/1783760793424613455

[sandiego89]

Wow! That is some pretty impressive flexing.

[Jhieminga]

I did not realise that a CH-53K is required to hover a F-35C.... 😉

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Probably the softest landing that F35 will ever experience. Lovely flying, lovely filming.

[CAEBr]

I did not realise that a CH-53K is required to hover a F-35C.... 😉

Always has been, just usually edited out of any film to be released. Never going to get the cat back in the bag now ........ :cool:

[Martin the Martian]

That's just showing off!:ooh:

Seriously, very impressive.

[aerolearner]

Nice show off! Next time they should try refuelling the underslung F-35 too!:ok:

[Ken Scott]

That’s one way to extend the range of an F35 I suppose…

[Expatrick]

What's the cost of that combo?

[Ninthace]

Priceless!

[ihg]

Is it only me, or is the F35 attitude featuring some slightly 'negative AoA'? And thus imposing even higher lift requirements on that poor CH53 during forward flight....

[SASless]

Now what could possibly go wrong with that?

[NutLoose]

Is it only me, or is the F35 attitude featuring some slightly 'negative AoA'? And thus imposing even higher lift requirements on that poor CH53 during forward flight....

Possibly to aid the load stability? after all, you wouldn't want the load generating lift hanging on the cables as you chunter along

[sablatnic]

Now I wonder, if the F35 is considered an aerodynamic load

[ETOPS]

So too heavy to lift the F-35 with appreciable fuel on-board thus pick up a little above bingo then go find Texaco to complete the mission - simples!

[rattman]

Is it only me, or is the F35 attitude featuring some slightly 'negative AoA'? And thus imposing even higher lift requirements on that poor CH53 during forward flight....

The F-35 was just an airframe, no engines, mission systems. It was used for ground handling training. I imagine they purposely wired it up for nose down. Generating lift would have been a massive pain in the ass for the crew

[Guido1977]

What's the point of linking (and this way pushing) an pro-russian Twitter-Account for some american military video?
http s://ww w.dvid shub.net/video/920871/marines-new-ch-53k-helicopter-transports-f-35-airframe-between-test-sites-maryland-nj

---

Maybe refuel the F-35 inflight so it could start fly away?

mfg

[Dan Gerous]

Any video footage of the F35 being refuelled :8

[SpazSinbad]

MORE INFO: USMC CH-53K Transports F-35C And Refuels From KC-130 En Route - The Aviationist (https://theaviationist.com/2024/04/26/usmc-ch-53k-transports-f-35c/)
"...The F-35C (https://theaviationist.com/2023/05/19/f-35c-flying-low-level-with-visible-shock-waves/) and rigging weighed about 22,000 pounds after removal of its mission and propulsion systems, outer wings, and additional equipment...."

VIDEOs: Marine’s new CH-53K helicopter transports F-35 airframe between test sites in Maryland, NJ: [24 Apr 2024]
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/920871/marines-new-ch-53k-helicopter-transports-f-35-airframe-between-test-sites-maryland-nj
"U.S. Marines flying a CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter transported an F-35C Lightning II airframe from the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Patuxent River (Pax ITF) to a Navy unit located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, April 24. A Marine aviator from Marine Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1) piloted the most powerful helicopter in the Department of Defense that carried the inoperable airframe, which was without mission and propulsion systems, outer wings, or additional equipment, to the Prototype, Manufacturing and Test (PMT) Department of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst for use in future emergency recovery systems testing."
&
Non-flyable F-35C airframe lifted by CH-53K: [13 Dec 2022]
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/871444/non-flyable-f-35c-airframe-lifted-ch-53k
"A non-flyable F-35C Lightning II airframe is flown as part of a CH-53K King Stallion external load certification lift Dec. 13, 2022, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The structure is from the first F-35C carrier variant aircraft, CF-1, a former developmental flight test jet from the Patuxent River F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF)...."

Side JPG: https://www.navair.navy.mil/sites/g/files/jejdrs536/files/styles/crop_16_9/public/22P00281_072.jpg
:}
FCLP JPG: https://www.navair.navy.mil/sites/g/files/jejdrs536/files/styles/crop_16_9/public/22P00281_002_0.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1311x910/kingstallionliftsf_35cairframesideview_7391c1a7a84c0ba5cbf02 e3ce43713c0afe0545e.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1525x904/kingstallionfclpwithf_35cairframe_91bd9695eaeaf843ef5b72571d 543ee41e54fef3.jpg

[NutLoose]

What's the point of linking (and this way pushing) an pro-russian Twitter-Account for some american military video?
http s://ww w.dvid shub.net/video/920871/marines-new-ch-53k-helicopter-transports-f-35-airframe-between-test-sites-maryland-nj

---

Maybe refuel the F-35 inflight so it could start fly away?

mfg

Hi Guido I was reliable informed on here it’s not Pro Russian, she is ex US forces with two tours behind her in conflict zones.

Welcome to the forums by the way :)

[SpazSinbad]

CH-53K King Stallion LIFTing an F-35C Airframe 13 DEC 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3LAITg_2YM

[admikar]

You all got it wrong. It's to increase F35's stealth.

[Guido1977]

Hi Guido I was reliable informed on here it’s not Pro Russian, she is ex US forces with two tours behind her in conflict zones.

Welcome to the forums by the way :)I was talking about the first post'S link to the Twitter-Account "Roberto05246129", showing the flags of Russia, Palestina and Cuba. Often positing like "our tanks ..." referring to russian tanks. Absolutly possible an "ex US forces", there are several examples of them. Scott Ritter, 'Donbass Devushka', Jack Teixeira ...

[SpazSinbad]

29 Apr 2024: https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Marines-new-CH-53K-helicopter-transports-F-35-airframe-between-test-sites-Maryland-NJ/Mon
"...U.S. Marines flying a CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter transported an F-35C Lightning II airframe from the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Patuxent River (Pax ITF) to a Navy unit located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, April 24. ... the almost 100-foot-long helicopter lifted the approximately 22,000-pound airframe from the airfield here, briefly headed west, and then turned southeast and headed out over the Chesapeake to begin the 305 nautical mile transport. The CH-53K is currently cleared to conduct lifts up to 36,000 lbs...."
JPG: https://www.navair.navy.mil/sites/g/files/jejdrs536/files/styles/crop_16_9/public/K%20F35%20Over%20Water.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1650x1026/ch_53ktransportsf_35c_e6efcac011ee1b35b0a761352a8a0b55cee95c e0.jpg

[falcon900]

A lot cheaper than the B model, and we wouldn’t need the carriers either……….