It was 50 years ago yesterday that Boeing [BA] delivered the first H-47 Chinook helicopter to the Army, and officials expect the heavy lift helicopter to continue providing its capabilities for decades to come.
“The Chinook has served as the backbone of U.S. Army aviation since the Vietnam era, revolutionizing how we move troops and supplies in combat, and save lives and deliver aid in times of need,” said Col. Bob Marion, Army Cargo Helicopter program manager. “The latest F-model has ushered in a new era of heavy-lift capability for the U.S. Army. With continued technology insertions, I fully expect that 50 years from now there will be a centennial celebration for Chinooks still in service.”
A total of 355 A models were built, six prototypes and 349 production aircraft, Cargo Helicopter Project Office, PEO Aviation told Defense Daily. Of those A models, 164 became D models and 64 are still flying in active duty, Guard and Reserve units.
There are no A models in flying condition today. None of the latest F models have A model airframes, but 23 of the special operation MH-47G aircraft were converted from D model Chinooks that originally started out as A models.
Chinooks have been lost to enemy action–34 A models were lost in Vietnam, and two captured by North Vietnamese are on still displayed in Vietnam, the office said. Most recently, two of the D models converted from A models were lost in Afghanistan.
On display near the CH-47 Program Office at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., sits Chinook 64-13149 “Easy Money.” It’s the only surviving helicopter of four armed/armored ACH-47A Chinooks specially built by Boeing Vertol in 1965. The armed helicopters were a concept explored and discarded by the Army. The helicopters were part of the 53rd Aviation Detachment, nicknamed “Guns-A-Go-Go,” according to http://www.chinook-helicopter.com, a non-military web site.
Boeing has delivered more than 1,200 Chinooks to 18 operators around the world since delivering the first to the Army on Aug. 16, 1962, Boeing said in a statement. More than 800 are in operation today, conducting combat, cargo transport and humanitarian relief missions
The company is almost done with a $130 million renovation the Chinook production line near Philadelphia that will help the program meet the global demand for the newest CH-47 F model.
“Chinook is Boeing’s longest continuously running production program, and it’s in greater demand today than ever before,” said Leanne Caret, vice president, Vertical Lift and H-47 Programs. “Chinooks are being delivered on schedule and operating at a higher rate than any time in history, thanks to our team’s innovation, efficiency, and focus on meeting our customers’ needs.”
The revamped production line updates will enable Boeing to continue to affordably increase Chinook production rates.
Boeing is scheduled to deliver nearly 60 Chinooks this year and has submitted a multiyear, firm fixed-price proposal to the Department of Defense to provide 155 CH-47Fs to the U.S. Army with deliveries beginning in 2015.
The oldest Chinooks still flying are with National Guard units, the project office said. Bragging rights are in dispute between an A to D conversion flying with the Oregon National Guard and another flying with the Nevada/Montana National Guard.