{"product_id":"academy-148-mh53e-sea-dragon","title":"Academy 1:48 MH53E Sea Dragon","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Sikorsky H-53 was designed as a heavy assault transport helicopter that entered service with the US Navy as the CH-53A, the USAF as the CH-53B\/C, and the USMC as the CH-53D. The US Navy adopted their Sea Stallion to serve as a mine sweeper, towing a hydrofoil sled through the water to search for and clear mines left to disrupt maritime traffic. This first version was the RH-53D.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSikorsky must have taken note of actor Tim Allen's approach to engineering - \"more power\" when it came time to improve the H-53. They took their twin-engine workhorse and crammed a third engine behind the rotor mast. To translate that additional power to lift, Sikorsky altered the main rotor head from a six-bladed arrangement to seven blades. Another innovation was the tilting of the vertical stabilizer to port to optimize the tail rotor authority against the increased torque from the higher-power engine\/main rotor combination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis new machine became the CH-53E Super Sea Stallion and MH-53E Sea Dragon. The MH-53E entered service with the US Navy in 1986 and differed from the CH-53E with larger external sponsons to increase its range\/endurance while still retaining its air refueling boom. In addition, main cabin can be equipped with up to seven 300 gallon fuel tanks for further range\/endurance. The aircraft was designed specifically to tow a special mine-sweeping sled which can safely clear sea lanes of mines. When the aircraft is not involved in the mine-sweeping mission, the aircraft's greater range makes it a useful troop and supply transport to reach areas outside the unrefueled reach of the Marines' CH-53E.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1:48 scale plastic assembly kit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRequires glue and paint to complete.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Academy","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44333836763362,"sku":"9-12703","price":159.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0353\/3769\/9460\/products\/9-12703.jpg?v=1694069245","url":"https:\/\/franktonmodels.co.nz\/products\/academy-148-mh53e-sea-dragon","provider":"Frankton Model Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}