As covered, the National Naval Aviation Museum (formerly the Naval Air and Space Museum) in Pensacola recently reopened to the public after being off-limits for years– and they just got a new (to them) bird with a hell of an unsung history that will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit.
I am pretty sure I saw this helo on a flatbed at AMARG when I was in Tuscson earlier this year and am glad to know it is being preserved.
This from The Red Wolves of HSC-84:
Sikorsky HH-60H 163787, better known as Red Wolf 202, arrived at the in Pensacola, Florida on 13 January 2024.
The aircraft will be restored to display condition over the next several months, unsure of the time table for display.
Initially accepted by the Firehawks of HCS-5 in 1989, 163787 served with HCS-4, HCS-5, HSC-84, and a brief stint with VX-1 in 1992. The aircraft has 980 hours of combat time in Iraq and performed 17,710 landings (including two mishaps).
Now interned at the National Naval Aviation Museum, the aircraft will serve as a memorial to all those who served with the Red Wolves and Firehawks, spanning 30 years of dedicated CSAR and Special Operations support.
