MH-53J Pave Low Model

Scale: 1/48
Wingspan: 19.5"
Fuselage Length: 21"

Hand-made and hand-painted, the MH-53J Pave Low wooden scale model is of museum quality. Carefully carved from mahogany by skilled craftsmen, every piece is sanded and primed many times until perfect. A final coat of clear lacquer seals in the intricate details which have been meticulously painted on by talented artists. Each model comes with a beautiful mahogany-based chrome pedestal.

MH-53J Pave Low is a modified version of the HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant. The MH-53J’s mission is to perform low-level long-range undetected penetration into denied areas day or night in any weather, for infiltration and exfiltration and supply of special operation forces. The MH-53J is the largest, most powerful and technologically advanced transport helicopter in the US Air Force inventory. The terrain-following and terrain-avoidance radar, forward looking infrared sensor, inertial navigation system with Global Positioning System along with a projected map display.

This helicopter is equipped with armor plating and can transport 38 troops at a time and sling up to 20,000 pounds of cargo. The MH-53J reaches top speeds of 165mph at 16,000 ft altitude.

The MH-53J Pave Low saw extensive action in the Vietnam War for combat search and rescue (CSAR) operations. An MH-53J made the first successful combat recovery of a downed pilot in Desert Storm following the war and soon deployed to Northern Iraq to support Operation Provide Comfort assisting displaced Kurds. These helicopters were also used extensively during Operation Cause in Panama.

The MH-53 helicopter has several variants included is the training version used by the US Air Force the TH-53A, export version for Austria and later to Israel the S-65C-2 and S-65C-C3, and the upgraded MH-53Js the MH-53M Pave Low IV.