Boeing Vertol CH-46E Sea Knight

Boeing Vertol CH-46E Sea Knight. . , The "Battle Phrog" The Sea Knight was developed as an assault helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps. It featured tandem rotors (one in front, one in back) that folded for shipboard stowage. Although other helicopters with tandem rotors preceded it, the CH-46 was the first such type to be powered by turbine engines. CH-46s equipped both the Navy and Marine Corps for 50 years, serving in every conflict of its era. Sea Knights were also operated by Canada, Japan, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia. The CH-46E before you is an example of the final version of the Sea Knight line. (The Sea Knight was affectionately known as the "Phrog" because of its frog-like appearance when viewed head-on and the green paint it wore early in its career.), Our Display Aircraft Bureau Number 152578 was delivered to the Navy as a CH-46D. Along with over 275 other CH-46Ds, our Phrog was converted into a CH-46E in the late 1970s. That process brought the new avionics, structural enhancements, composite rotor blades, and more powerful engines to the aircraft. PRNAM's "Battle Phrog" served with HX-21 (Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Squadron, NAS Patuxent River), where it was used to test mission system, infrared signature suppression, and armament upgrades to improve combat effectiveness and survivability. It was retired in October 2012 and transferred to PRNAM in 2014.,

. Primary Mission: Medium-lift assault transport, Search and Rescue , . Crew: Pilot, Copilot, Crew Chief/Loadmaster including Gunners and Rescue Swimmers , . U.S. Service Timeline (H-46 Series): 1964 - 2015 , . Dimensions: 45.7 fuselage length, 51.0 ft rotor diameter , . Max. Gross Weight: 24,300 lb , . Propulsion: Two General Electric T58-GE-16 turboshaft engines , . Max. Operating Speed: 168 MPH (sea level) , . Payload/Armament: Up to 5000 lb cargo or 17 combat-equipped troops; window-mounted .30- and .50-caliber machine guns

, This aircraft is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.