The Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low was a combat search and rescue helicopter assigned to the United States Air Force special operations units. The series was upgraded from the HH-53B/C, variants of the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion. Introduced to the military in 1968, the heavy lift, long range helicopter became a special operations mainstay and was constantly being upgraded until it was retired in 2008 and replaced by the V-22 Osprey.

Pave Low's mission was low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. Five RH-53 helicopters (early Navy versions of the Pave Low) were left in the Iranian desert during the botched mission of Operation Eagle Claw, and special operations forces tried to rescue the American hostages in Tehran. Disaster struck when one of the choppers clipped an EC-130 aircraft. Two of the RH-53s now reportedly fly for the Iranian Navy.

The armor plated Pave Low III's job was to support special forces behind enemy lines, making low-level penetration flying up to 165 mph using terrain following radar and infrared sensors for bad weather flying. The Pave Low III could transport 38 troops and sling up to 10 tons of cargo with its external hook.

(This is an upload of a historical production.)

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