CH-47 Chinook

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CH-47 Chinook

RAF Chinook .
Description
Role Medium transport helicopter
Crew 3 (pilot, copilot, crew chief/combat commander)
First flight September 21, 1961
Entered service
Manufacturer Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
Dimensions
Length 98 ft 9 in 30.1 m
Rotor diameter 60 ft 0 in 18.3 m
Height 18 ft 8 in 5.7 m
Weights
Empty 22,450 lb 10,185 kg
Loaded 26,680 lb 12,100 kg
Maximum takeoff 50,000 lb 22,680 kg
Capacity 30 troops or 24 litters and 2 attendants
Powerplant
Engines 2 Avco Lycoming T55-L-714 turboshafts
Power 2 x 3,750 hp 2 x 2,800 kW
Performance
Maximum speed 183 mph 295 km/h
Combat range miles km
Ferry range 1,280 miles 2,060 km
Service ceiling 8,500 ft 2,590 m
Rate of climb 1,980 ft/min 605 m/min
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns 2 x M-60 machine guns
Bombs
Missiles
Rockets
Other

The CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, twin-rotor heavy-lift helicopter. The contra-rotating rotors eliminate the need for a rear vertical rotor, allowing all power to be used for lift and thrust, giving a top speed of 173 mph (150 knots, 278 km/h). Its primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement, and battlefield resupply. Chinooks have been sold to 16 nations, the largest users of which are the US Army and the Royal Air Force (see RAF Chinook). A commercial model, the Boeing 234 Chinook, is used worldwide for logging, construction, fighting forest fires, and supporting petroleum exploration operations.

Contents

Variants

CH-47A

The Boeing Vertol (model 114) YCH-1B/YCH-47A made its initial hovering flight on September 21, 1961. The all-weather medium-lift CH-47A Chinook entered service in Vietnam about 1966. The CH-47A was powered by either AlliedSignal Engines T55-L-5 2200 shp (1,640 kW) or T55-L-7 2650 shp (1,980 kW) engines.

A/ACH-47A/ACH-47A

Originally known as the Armed/Armored CH-47A (or A/ACH-47A), four CH-47A helicopters were converted to gunships by Boeing Vertol in late 1965. The four aircraft were denoted 64-13145 "Cost of Living," 64-13149 "Easy Money," 64-13151 "Stump Jumper," and 64-13154 "Birth Control." Three were assigned to the 53rd Aviation Detachment in South Vietnam for testing, with the remaining one retained in the U.S. for weapons testing. By 1966, the 53rd was redesignated the 1st Aviation Detachment (Provisional) and attached to the 228th Aviation Support Helicopter Battalion of the 1st Air Calvary Division. By 1968, only one gunship remained, and logistical concerns prevented more conversions. It was returned to the United States, and the program stopped.

The ACH-47A carried five M60D 7.62x51mm machine guns or M2HB .50 caliber machine guns, provided by the XM32 and XM33 armament subsystems, two M24A1 20mm cannons, two XM159B/XM159C 19-Tube 2.75" rocket launchers or sometimes two M18/M18A1 7.62x51mm gun pods, and a single M75 40mm grenade launcher in the XM5/M5 armament subsystem.

CH-47B

CH-47B was powered by two AlliedSignal Engines T55-L-7C 2850 shp (2,130 kW) engines. The CH-47B featured a blunted rear rotor pylon, redesigned rotor blades, and strakes along the rear ramp and fuselage to improve flying characteristics. The CH-47B was the standard troop transport used by the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. The Chinook could be equipped with two door-mounted M60D 7.62 mm NATO machine guns on the M24 armament subsystem and a ramp-mounted M60D using the M41 armament subsystem. Some CH-47 "Bombers" were equipped to drop riot control gas or napalm onto Viet Cong bunkers from the rear cargo ramp. The CH-47 could be equipped with a hoist and cargo hook. The Chinook proved especially valuable in "Pipe Smoke" aircraft recovery missions. The "Hook" recovered about 12,000 aircraft valued at over $3 billion during the war.

CH-47C

The Boeing Vertol (model 234) CH-47C had a strengthened transmission, AlliedSignal Engines T55-L-11C 3750 shp (2,800 kW) engines, and increased range. The CH-47C could carry up to 44 troops or 24 litters plus two medical attendants. The RAF's Chinook HC.1, introduced in 1980, is comparable to the CH-47C.

A later "Super-C" configuration included up-rated Lycoming T55-L-712 engines and wide-chord fiberglass rotor blades, which had a wider chord than the old metal blades, and an angled, rather than squared-off root-end.

All three models saw wide use during the Vietnam war. They replaced the H-21 Shawnee in the combat assault role.

CH-47D

The CH-47D was originally powered by two T55-GA-712 engines, but most are now fitted with T55-GA-714s. Models CH-47A, CH-47B, and CH-47C, all used the same airframe, but later models featured upgraded engines. With its triple-hook cargo system, the CH-47D can carry heavy payloads -- for example, bulldozers and 40-foot containers -- at speeds over 155 mph (250 km/h). In air assault operations, it often serves as the principal mover of the 155 mm M198 howitzer, 30 rounds of ammunition, and an 11-man crew. Like most US Army helicopters, the Chinook has advanced avionics and electronics, including the Global Positioning System.

The CH-47D, which can carry more weight than any other U.S. Army helicopter, saw wide use in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. The Chinook was used in air assault missions, inserting troops into fire bases and later bringing food, water, and ammunition. It is typically escorted by attack helicopters such as the Apache for protection. The CH-47D was particularly useful in the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan where high altitudes and temperatures limited the use of the Black Hawk.

The RAF versions of the CH-47D are the Chinook HC.2 and HC.2A.

CH-47F

The CH-47F, an upgraded D model, first flew in 2001; largescale production will begin in September 2006.

A U.S. military Chinook helicopter stands ready to receive medical supplies and whooping cough vaccine donated by the World Health Organization in Feyzabad, Afghanistan
Enlarge
A U.S. military Chinook helicopter stands ready to receive medical supplies and whooping cough vaccine donated by the World Health Organization in Feyzabad, Afghanistan

MH-47

The MH-47 variants are intended for special forces operations and have in-flight refueling, a fast-rope rappeling system and other upgrades. The current model being used is the MH-47E. The MH-47G is in development.

The RAF ordered eight Chinook HC.3s in 1995 for the special forces operations role. At a total cost of £259m these were effectively low-cost equivalents to the MH-47G. This has proved to be a false economy as the helicopters were due to enter service in 1998, but in 2004 have yet to be cleared for anything other than training flights. An additional £130m is required to make them suitable for their mission.

The H-47 is now sold by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

Units using the Chinook

See main article, Deployment of the Chinook helicopter

Chinook is used by:

Problems with Chinook

See main article, Chinook crash on Mull of Kintyre

In June 1994 a Royal Air Force Chinook crashed into the Mull of Kintyre, killing 29. This was initially dismissed as pilot error, but an investigation by Computer Weekly uncovered evidence sufficient to convince a House of Lords enquiry that it may have been caused by a software bug in the aircraft's FADEC. [1] [2]

Reputation in the RAF

See also: RAF Chinook

Whilst Great Britain's Royal Air Force has many types of helicopters in active service, the Chinook has proven itself one of the most effective. One particular Chinook, registered ZA718 with the Royal Air Force and known by its original callsign 'Bravo November', has seen action in every major operation the RAF has been deployed to in the helicopter's 25-year service life. Bravo November started out spearheading the British landings on the Falkland Islands in 1982 and was being transported aboard the container ship Atlantic Conveyor along with three other Chinooks. However, the Argentine Air Force chose the Atlantic Conveyor as a target for their deadly Exocet sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. By a stroke of pure luck, however, Bravo November was airborne on an engineering test flight at the time. Having survived the destruction of the ship it was being carried on, Bravo November managed to make it to safety on the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes. Unfortunately, ZA718 ran into trouble during a night mission transporting guns to the SAS when pilot Dick Langworthy, unable to see clearly through a thick snow shower, allowed Bravo November to descend and hit the sea at around 100 knots (139 km/h), throwing up spray and flooding the engine intakes. However, Dick and his copilot managed to get the helicopter back in the air. With the radio damaged and unable to navigate, Bravo November returned to San Carlos and after a quick inspection revealed the impact had caused little more than dents to the fuselage and radio sytems.

ZA718 Bravo November went on to serve in Lebanon, Germany, Northern Ireland, Kurdistan and Iraq, being the first British helicopter to land Royal Marines ashore in Iraq.

Two pilots have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross at the controls of ZA718.

See also


Lists of Aircraft | Aircraft manufacturers | Aircraft engines | Aircraft engine manufacturers

Airports | Airlines | Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation

The Chinook in Movies

We Were Soldiers - Lands briefly at the end of the battle, landing the infamous media personnel.

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