“I walked out there and said, ‘You’re in the ‘Danger Zone,’” Kenny Loggins
Taken on Apr. 15, 2015, the impressive video in this post shows a massive 100-foot-long U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter doing an emergency landing in Solana Beach in southern California.
The CH-53E from Marine Heavy HelicopternSquadron 466 (HMH-466) based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) had to land on the beach after a low oil-pressure indicator light went on in the cockpit.
The precautionary landing came during a training exercise; there were no damages or injuries, but residents, Gunnery Sgt. Donald Bonner said, and beachgoers got to experience quite a spectacle. Four hours after landing, the helicopter took off and headed back to the Miramar base.
According to NBC 7, among the witnesses was musician Kenny Loggins, who said in a video post on Facebook that he had been out for a walk.
“I walked out there and said, ‘You’re in the ‘Danger Zone,’” he said about his hit song, which was featured in the movie “Top Gun.”
As the Marine Corps heavy-lift helicopter designed for the transportation of heavy material and supplies, the Sikorsky CH-53EnSuper Stallion is compatible with most amphibious class ships. With four and one-half hours of endurance, the helicopter can move heavy equipment over rugged terrain in bad weather and at night. The MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the Navy’s need for long-range minesweeping missions, in addition to heavy-lift duties. The H-53E has consistently proven its worth to fleet commanders with its versatility and range.
The CH-53E will be replaced by the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion.