The CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter turns 65

September 21 marked the 65th anniversary of the CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter. On that day in 1961, its prototype, the YHC-1B, performed its first hover. Development of the helicopter was initiated by the American company Vertol Corporation, which was acquired by Boeing in 1960, after which it was renamed Boeing Vertol. Today, it is part of the Boeing Defense, Space & Security division, based in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1962, the helicopter was designated the CH-47 Chinook. It was designed using the longitudinal main rotor configuration that was popular in the 1940s and 1950s. In this configuration, the rear rotor was positioned higher than the front one, allowing the blades to safely cross each other during rotation and making it possible to reduce the length of the helicopter’s fuselage. Two turboshaft engines powered a single main gearbox, from which power was transmitted to both rotors via the drivetrain. They continued to rotate even if one of the engines failed, which significantly increased the helicopter’s reliability. However, overall, this configuration is quite complex, and today the Chinook remains the only helicopter of its kind in widespread service.

Serial production of the CH-47 was suspended and resumed several times. Boeing states that the capability to produce these helicopters remains in place today. In total, over 1,200 units have been built in twelve main variants and numerous modifications.

The modern CH-47F variant is equipped with two Lycoming T55-GA-714A turboshaft engines, each producing 4,733 k.s. The helicopter has a fuselage length of 15.6 m, a rotor diameter of 18 m, a maximum takeoff weight of 24.5 metric tons, a maximum speed of 310 km/h, and a range of 740 km. It can carry up to 55 military personnel and is capable of transporting nearly 11 metric tons of cargo on an external sling. (For comparison: the Mi-6, with a takeoff weight of 44 metric tons, can lift no more than 12 metric tons.) The design allows for the installation of up to three 7.62-mm machine guns in the windows.

In the United States, the Army Aviation became the primary operator of the CH-47. More than 25 other countries have also acquired helicopters from this family, including Australia, Argentina, the United Kingdom, India, Italy, Morocco, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Germany, and Japan. The vast majority of these helicopters were acquired by the military, though several airlines also operated the “Chinook.”

The CH-47 has participated in many armed conflicts, including the wars in Vietnam, the Middle East, between India and Pakistan, over the Falkland Islands, and in the Persian Gulf. The helicopter has long been considered a legend in global aviation. Thanks to continuous upgrades, it remains state-of-the-art; hundreds of these helicopters continue to be used in two dozen countries, and the time to retire them is still a long way off.