Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopters. The squadron, known as the "Flying Tigers", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
HMR-361 HRS helicopters over Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, 1953
A CH-53 from HMH-361 training in Okinawa in 1995.
A CH-53E Super Stallion from HMH-361 flying off the coast of Camp Pendleton, California.
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter operated by the United States military. As the Sikorsky S-80, it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor, and canting the tail rotor 20°. It was built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps. The less common MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the United States Navy's need for long-range minesweeping or airborne mine countermeasures missions, and performs heavy-lift duties for the Navy. The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, which has new engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin, is set to replace the CH-53E and is beginning to enter service in the 2020s, but most of the Super Stallions are still in service as are the MH-53E Sea Dragons.
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
The YCH-53E on its first flight, 1 March 1974; note that the horizontal stabilizer differs from the production version
A production CH-53E during a flight demonstration showing the three engines and the tail rotor pylon
An MH-53E Sea Dragon from HM-15 during a minesweeping exercise, 2007