MH-53M Pavelow IV
DoD photo by: MSGT DAVE NOLAN, USAF
A USAF MH-53M Pavelow IV from the 1st Special Operations Wing flies low over the Florida countryside.
The 2 large external fuel tanks can be clearly seen in this shot.
These tanks, along with the telescopic refueling probe enable the MH-53M to carry out long range insertion/extraction and rescue missions.
MH-53Ms feature a suite of sophisiticated avionics that allow them to penetrate and navigate through hostile air space at low level.
update: the MH-53J and MH-53M helicopters have now been retired from service, replaced by the CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
