Earlier this month, staff at the RAF Museum Cosford have successfully moved the Sikorsky [UTX] MH-53 Pave Low helicopter into the National Cold War Exhibition (NCWE), the first aircraft of its type to go on display in the UK.
This combat Search & Rescue Helicopter is the first new airframe to be added to he Exhibition since the Royal Opening in February 2007 and not even the poor weather was going to halt the move, the museum said in a statement.
Following the acquisition of the aircraft in December, the Museum’s technical team of the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) have completed a considerable amount of inspections, safety checks, remedial maintenance, restoration and anti-corrosion work, plus several deep-cleans to prepare this historically significant aircraft for display.
The move began May 11th when the ‘soft’ but reinforced doors of the NCWE started to be removed. The removal of these took some three and involved high-level platform and crane work to remove five heavy metal stanchions. Specialized track was laid on to the grass leading up from the road to the NCWE to ensure that the 15,000Kg ‘Super Jolly Green Giant’ didn’t sink into the grass.
The MBCC team ‘towed and pushed’ the MH-53 into the hangar using specialist vehicles, negotiating the tight spaces in the NCWE. Only three of the six 32 foot blades were fitted beforehand and as the aircraft was moved into and through the NCWE, the blades were rotated to pass the obstructions.
Once in position the process of reinstating the large door began, protecting the public, the Museum’s artefacts and staff from the elements. With the door back in place, everyone can see the Jolly Green Giant.