AeroBD | The AERO news Company… : Sikorsky’s second flight test CH-53K King Stallion helicopter made its first flight in late January this year, it was announced last week (March 14, 2016). The first and second test aircraft have accumulated more than 35 combined flight hours, including several flights with an active duty United States Marine Corps (USMC) pilot. The first prototype has achieved over 100kts in tests.

“Adding a second aircraft into flight status signifies another milestone for the CH-53K program,” said Mike Torok, Sikorsky’s vice president of CH-53K programs. “With both aircraft in flight test, our flight envelope expansion efforts will accelerate as we continue to make good progress toward our initial operational test assessment and full aircraft system qualification.”

Two additional aircraft will join the program this year for three years of testing. The US Department of Defense has plans to purchase 200 aircraft.