Boeing Chinook Projects

60 tuned Ch-47F for Germany:


and Boeing has installed Maintenance Training Device for the H-47 at former Bitburg air base

View: https://twitter.com/boeingdefense/status/1656728495702016011?s=61&t=S3ZZSp5bvFyQavLM45JgpQ&fbclid=IwAR3Bt760vJMUZ4ziUx_Crh_Nl4mUJ_F_zIxI1FiCdOslM4GHo5eBGzveEJo



Though deal sitll not cut and dried


It is up to the Bundestag and Bundeswehr now

cheers
 
Quite a fearsome looking Chinook. I almost want to see it turned into a gunship like the ACH-47.
 
MH-47G is arguably the most high-tech helicopter on the planet with all of the new gear.
 
 
and here in UK, been approved for H-47ER purchase


cheers
Worth saying that this is the same order that was first announced in 2021, but was subject to review and much speculation last year - allegedly with Ben Wallace almost cancelling the order as being bad value for money. Interesting to see the added value in today’s release.
 
Interesting to read also that the order is needed to offset the loss in capacity from Hercules retirement.

The logic in that escapes me.
 
Interesting to read also that the order is needed to offset the loss in capacity from Hercules retirement.

The logic in that escapes me.
The argument will be that the continued operation of 1/2 of the Hercules fleet was primarily for special forces mobility. This buy is meant to be SF optimised, hence going for the long range fuel tanks to give something akin to a MH47-lite.
 
MH-47 is a great Special Forces platform. It can fly even greater distances with air refueling (usually provided by *cough* C-130). It can fly great distances at 150 knots. So, it isn't going long distances fast. If it is in theater, not sure there is a better platform. If you have to fly from, say Mildenhall to Niger to rescue humanitarian assistance folks you might want to use a C-130 or CV-22B. I don't say this to be critical of the decision taken on by the UK to buy Chinook for SOF operations, but more the decisions to retire all C-130. A400 is also a great aircraft but I suspect bit harder to maintain and certify the "normal" amount of special gear that usually ends up bolted onto Special Purpose aircraft.
 
Yes, none of them are substitute to the other. That's why it doesn't make much sense. You need C-130 and Chinooks.

Brits should probably have rejoined the joint C-130 Squadron with German and French forces.
 
MH-47 is a great Special Forces platform. It can fly even greater distances with air refueling (usually provided by *cough* C-130). It can fly great distances at 150 knots. So, it isn't going long distances fast. If it is in theater, not sure there is a better platform. If you have to fly from, say Mildenhall to Niger to rescue humanitarian assistance folks you might want to use a C-130 or CV-22B. I don't say this to be critical of the decision taken on by the UK to buy Chinook for SOF operations, but more the decisions to retire all C-130. A400 is also a great aircraft but I suspect bit harder to maintain and certify the "normal" amount of special gear that usually ends up bolted onto Special Purpose aircraft.
-47G pilots have to manage their gross weight very carefully because all the extra mission equipment makes empty weight much higher than a -47F. For basic hauling, the -47Gs are not ideal; they really need upgraded engines and debugged Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades.
 
The CH-47 was already tested with a set of wing mounted in the center fuselage and experiments showed that there was no advantages in term of efficiency (with in fact a significant loss during hover and slow speed flight). thanks to the tandem rotors having overlapping discs. See Boeing BV-347


Boeing-347-2-600x304.jpg


Source (picture):
disneo-art.com
Source (History):

and Piasecki proposal


piasecki_chinook.jpg

cheers
 
-47G pilots have to manage their gross weight very carefully because all the extra mission equipment makes empty weight much higher than a -47F. For basic hauling, the -47Gs are not ideal; they really need upgraded engines and debugged Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades.
Fill me in on debugged Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades. What are the issues?

Thanks - Mark
 
I always wonder, why the front set of wheels are dual configuration, while the rear are single wheels ....
 
Regarding Piasecki proposal, how does it stand structurally? is there a carry through main spar acting as a pivot (tube?) crossing the cabin? I mean, I would have understood if the wing was low mounted but there?!!
 
Weight. The CH47 series is near its structural design limit. More kit means less cargo. I am not sure what the Piasecki concept adds to the weight of the aircraft, but suspect it is considerable. So you could end up with a Chinook that can carry slightly more than a Blackhawk to a longer distance. Not sure that would be considered a wise move.
 
Boeing delivers first CH-47F Block II to the United States Army


cheers
 
I always wonder, why the front set of wheels are dual configuration, while the rear are single wheels ....
So it can manoeuvre on the ground... The first Chinook prototypes (and early A models) did have dual wheels in the rear; however, they did not work well. The narrow high pressure tires did not turn easily on a short radius, especially on grass or rough terrain. A larger single tire worked much better.O
 
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Fill me in on debugged Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades. What are the issues?

Thanks - Mark

Excessive vibration at cruise speeds, enough so that the crews were getting nauseous and forward flight was limited to something like 130kts. The ACRBs were great for increasing lift capacity, but obviously the huge tradeoff was speed in forward flight.
 

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