With a 16-ton payload, what is the MH-52E Sea Dragon's maximum range?

With a 16-ton payload, what is the MH-52E Sea Dragon's maximum range?

• A. 50 nautical miles
• B. 500 nautical miles
• C. 5 nautical miles
• D. 100 nautical miles

Answer: (A)

Payload weight has a direct impact on range because carrying more mass requires more fuel burn, leaving less fuel available for flying forward. When a helicopter is loaded with a heavy payload, its endurance at a given cruise condition drops, so the maximum distance it can cover is reduced. For the MH-52E Sea Dragon carrying a 16-ton payload, the performance data specify a maximum range of about 50 nautical miles. The other numbers would demand either much less payload or substantially more fuel than this configuration allows, which isn’t consistent with the given payload condition. In short, 50 nautical miles best reflects the range limitation imposed by that 16-ton payload.

Payload weight has a direct impact on range because carrying more mass requires more fuel burn, leaving less fuel available for flying forward. When a helicopter is loaded with a heavy payload, its endurance at a given cruise condition drops, so the maximum distance it can cover is reduced.

For the MH-52E Sea Dragon carrying a 16-ton payload, the performance data specify a maximum range of about 50 nautical miles. The other numbers would demand either much less payload or substantially more fuel than this configuration allows, which isn’t consistent with the given payload condition. In short, 50 nautical miles best reflects the range limitation imposed by that 16-ton payload.