A Day at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station
Trip Report
By Maj Dennis S. Ammann
Cmdr, SD Cadet Sq. 144
At 0830 hours, Saturday, 15 March 2008, the following personnel reported for transport-tation to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), San Diego:
Cadets
C/2Lt Douglas Saavedra
C/CMSgt Chandra Murphy
C/SSgt Spencer Beaulieu
C/SrA Scott Lynch
C/A1C Hayden Sheyda
C/A1C Emily Duescher
C/A1C Andrew Elsken
C/A1C Caleb Duescher
C/Amn Nathan Duescher
C/Amn Hanna Olson
C/Amn Blake Hanslik
C/Amn Jesse O’Keefe
C/Amn Rebecca Olson
C/Amn Matthew Valdez (South San Diego Cadet Sq. 201)
C/AB John Shearer
C/AB Matthew McFarland
C/AB John Davis (South San Diego Cadet Sq. 201)
C/AB Cesar Dela Vega (South San Diego Cadet Sq. 201)
Senior Members
LtCol Ben Aaron
LtCol Elbert McDowell
Maj Dennis Ammann
Capt David Saavedra
2Lt Jeff Cable
Cadet Sponsor Jeffrey “Oley” Olson
Cadet Sponsor Heidi Olson
Cadet Sponsor William McFarland
At 0900 hours the two squadrons arrived at the east gate of MCAS Miramar and were greeted by Maj Timothy “Pablo” Sheyda of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 (HMH-466), the famous fighting world renowned Wolf Pack. Maj Sheyda is the father of C/A1C Hayden Sheyda who is a member of SD Cadet Sq. 144. After being screened through security, we were escorted to the Wolf Pack ready room for a briefing by Maj Sheyda. The major displayed a PowerPoint presentation about the mission, specifica-tions, history, and recent deployments to the Middle East.
After the briefing, Maj Sheyda led the cadets and senior members to the maintenance hangar for a look at one of the CH-53 Sea Stallions undergoing overhaul. He explained the various components of this mammoth helicopter being worked on, i.e., the General Electric engines, rotors, in-flight refueling probe, etc.
After this extensive brief, the group was divided up in two, one group headed to the survival equipment room and the other group walked out onto the flight line for a walk-around tour of the ready duty CH-53 helicopter.
During the survival equipment session, Sgt David Ewart had Cadet Andrew Elsken don an armor plated vest, survival vest, and helmet. He then explained what the various items on the vest and their function, i.e., flares, strobe light, inflation bladder, knife, radio, etc. As he explained, Cadet Elsken stood there thinking about what it’s like to wear all of this heavy gear while trying to fly a helicopter at night or as an aircrewman in the back in 100 plus degree heat! Each cadet was allowed to try on the night vision goggles (NVG) in a darken room and compare their sight with that of the NVGs. The only disadvantage was the limited peripheral vision. How these Marine aviators fly during the night with NVG tunnel vision is just beyond comprehension. The alternative is worse, vertigo! By the way, NVGs cost $10,000 each, so start saving your money if you want a pair.
Meanwhile, outside on the flight line, 1Lts Dan “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, Ryan “Prancer” Thompson, and Michael “Kermit” Pigford pointed out the various systems and components of the Sikorsky Sea Stallion helicopter. Each CAP member was given the chance to sit in the pilot/co-pilot’s seat and learn about the various controls levers/foot pedals, i.e., rudder, collective, and cyclic. The forward looking infrared (FLIR) ball, located on the front left side, is used for night flying. Each pilot has a small TV monitor in which to view behind, forward, or straight down and can also view the cargo sling or troops on the ground. Each FLIR costs about two million dollars, so they are very careful not to damage them! We also saw where the chaff, flare dispensers, and missile disruptors are located in defense of heat seeking missiles. One of the deck trap doors were opened and pointed out how this helo can lift heavy cargo (i.e. F/A-18 Hornet, 155 mm howitzer, etc.). The Sea Stallion can carry 37 combat troops, which can quickly ingress/egress out the back ramp. We also learned about the refueling probe on the front (front right side) and the dangers associated with in-flight refueling with KC-130 Hercules fixed wing aircraft. The CH-53 has a 79 foot diameter rotor blade sweep and if lowered in the front can clip the tip of the refueling probe when fully extended.
After the walk-around and survival gear briefs, the two CAP squadrons posed with our hosts next to the ready duty CH-53 for a group photo. We then walked back inside the hangar to the Wolf Pack “gedunk” to purchase patches, T-shirts, challenge coins, etc. Afterward, the two squadrons formed up outside the security fence and thanked our hosts for a most enlightening tour of this very versatile helicopter and squadron. We are very grateful to Maj Sheyda and his wingmen for this outstanding aerospace education (AE) opportunity. On a side note, we learned that 1Lt Dan “Fitz” Fitzpatrick was a CAP cadet with the North Carolina Wing. He also mentioned how sharp and disciplined the cadets appeared. This compliment from a Marine Aviator and former CAP cadet was well received! The Wolf Pack’s motto is: “The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.”
At 1200 hours, the squadrons headed over to the on-base McDonald’s restaurant to eat lunch and then on to the Flying Leatherneck Air Museum at 1300 hours.
First stop was an F-4S Phantom walk-around by our own Cadet Sponsor Jeffrey “Oly” Olson, a retired USMC LtCol fighter pilot who flew the F-4 Phantom and F/A-18 Hornet. His knowledge is unsurpassed as he explained and answered many questions about this fast mover that the Navy, Air Force, and Marines flew from the 1960s through the 1990s!
After Oly’s walk around we headed into the Air Museum and were warmly greeted by LtCol Richard Miller, USMC (Ret.), Director of the volunteer docents. He told us about the future expansion plans of the museum, Marine aviation history, and pointed out a few items in the WWII section. He also welcomed cadets who might want to volunteer for community service by being a docent on the weekends like C/SrA Scott Lynch and accumulate 60 plus hours, earning the CAP Community Service Ribbon.
As a volunteer Marine Air Museum docent, Maj Ammann led the squadrons through the inside of the museum starting with the Women in the Marine Corps exhibit, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War exhibits. He pointed out the various Marine Aviators, many of who are Medal of Honor awardees. Outside a quick look at some of the rotary wing examples, i.e., H-19 Chickasaw, H-34 Choctaw, CH-53D Sea Stallion, AH-1 Cobra; fixed wing prop: B-25 Mitchell, TBM Avenger, F4U Corsair, AT-6 Texan; and jets to name a few: A-6 Intruder, MiG-15, A-4 Skyhawk, RF-4 Phantom, RF-8 Crusader, etc.
Again LtCol Jeff “Oly” Olson conducted an intense, very informative walk-around of an F/A-18 Hornet that used to be part of the Aggressor Force for the Top Gun Fighter Weapons School, Naval Air Station, Fallon, NV. His knowledge of this aircraft and his personal touch in explaining the capabilities of this fighter was an AE gold mine for us.
At 1530 hours we thanked Col Miller for his time, left the museum, and headed back to the 147th Combat Communications Squadron ending this activity.
This activity could not have been accomplished without our senior members, cadet sponsors, and parents who volunteered to drive. Parent drivers were: Mr. Steve Lynch, Steve Murphy, Patrick O’Keefe, and Tim Beaulieu.
We are all experts on the CH-53 Sea Stallion thanks to Maj Sheyda and his wingmen. We salute and thank you for your service to our great nation!
We thank LtCol Miller for his continued support of CAP and exposing our cadets to Marine Air and its history.
As an added bonus, LtCol Jeffrey “Oley” Olson has turned 18 cadets into F-4 and F/A-18 experts through his vast knowledge of these two wonderful fighters!
I would like to thank everyone for the outstanding turnout and this great AE opportunity to learn about the largest helicopter in the free world and Marine Air in general.
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Below is a quick study of the CH-53E Super Sea Stallion
CH-53E SUPER SEA STALLION
Engines: Three 4,380-shp General Electric T64-GE-416 turboshafts
Performance: Maximum speed 196 mph at optimum altitude; initial climb rate 2,495 ft. per minute; service ceiling 18,400 ft.; range 1,292 miles
Weights: Empty 36,336 lb.; maximum take-off 743,500 lb.
Dimensions: Main rotor diameter 79 ft; length, fuselage 73 ft. 4 in.; height 29 ft. 6 in.; main rotor disc area 4,901.67 sq. ft. (7 blades)
Armament: Two 0.5-in machine guns on trainable mountings.
Payload: Between 55 and 64 troops, or 24 litters plus four attendants, or freight. Can lift a 155mm artillery piece, ammo, and personnel to operate the cannon or small armored vehicle or small jet fighter (i.e. A-4 Skyhawk). Also can be used for naval mine sweeping duties.
Comments: In the late 1950s Sikorsky began work on the basic design for a successor to the piston-engined S-56. The result was a pair of helicopters sharing many components: the S-64 became the CH-54 Tarhe flying crane, and the S-65 with a conventional but amphibious fuselage became the USMC’s CH-53 Sea Stallion transport helicopter. The S-65 is a classic heavy helicopter and, resulting from a USMC requirement for an assault transport, first flew in October 1964 as the YCH-53A with two 2,850-shp T64-GE-6 turboshafts and capacity for 38 troops, or 24 litters, or 8,000 lb. of freight. The type entered service in mid-1966 as the CH-53A, and was later re-engined with 3,435-shp T-64-GE-16 engines. In March 1974 Sikorsky flew the first example of its CH-53E upgraded version with three turboshafts powering a larger diameter main rotor with seven rather than six blades. The type displayed much improved lift, and was ordered as the USMC’s CH-53E Super Sea Stallion. The model also attracted the interest of the U.S. Navy, which already used the RH-53 versions of the S-65 for mine countermeasures (MCM). This helicopter provided an excellent platform for towing the MK-103, 104, 105, and 106 MCM sleds. The USAF also uses this helicopter for multi-missions such as SAR, and is designated as the HM-53J Pave Low.
