KING STALLION IN THE DESERT: Marines flying a new CH-53K King Stallion run the big helicopter through a “degraded visual environment” (DVE) at the Army’s Yuma Proving Ground (Arizona). The CH-53K is one impressive aircraft. This article from 2007 discusses why the Marines decided to acquire the upgraded version of the classic CH-53E helicopter. Note the 2007 article speculated the Marines would start getting the King Stallion in “about eight years” (the 2015-2016 time frame). As I understand it the Marines got their first operational King Stallions in early 2018.