CH-47 Chinook Medium Transport Helicopter

Entered service in	1962
Crew	3
Dimensions and weight
Weight (empty)	10.1 t
Maximum take off weight	22.68 t
Rotor diameter	18.3 m
Length	30.1 m
Cargo load
Cargo load	10 t
Passengers	33 troops
Engines
Engines	2 x Lycoming T55-GA-714 turboshafts
Engine power	2 x 5 069 hp
Maximum speed	315 km/h
Range with normal load	2 060 km
Maneuverability
Service ceiling	5 640 m

The CH-47 Chinook medium transport helicopter was developed by Boeing. This helicopter has been sold to 16 countries with the US Army and United Kingdom Royal Air Forces are the largest operators. Over 1 100 CH-47 Chinook helicopters are built to date. Over 600 of them are still in service.

The CH-47 Chinook was first introduced in 1962. The initial models A, B, and C were used during Vietnam war. In 1982 an improved CH-47D entered service with the US Army and remained in production till 1994. It is an easy upgradeable helicopter, and the US Army is going to maintain it's Chinooks until 2018, when the CH-47F will enter a full-scale production.

CH-47 Chinook prepares to lift a field gun The CH-47 Chinook is a transport helicopter that facilitates heavy airlifting. It is capable of taking on multiple missions. Primary objective for this helicopter is to carry artillery, troops, ammunition and other supply materials. It is also capable to recover aircraft and conducting search and rescue missions.

The future CH-47F will have an improved airframe, number of structural enhancements, improved avionics and communication systems, advanced flight control system. It will also have uprated 4 900 shp engines and a number of other improvements.

Chinook is powered by two engines, delivering power to two contra-rotating rotors. Such arrangement made a vertical tail rotor unnecessary. This helicopter has a top speed of 315 km/h.

The Boeing 234 Chinook is a commercial version of the CH-47. The 234 Chinook is used for logging, constructions, petrol exploration support, fire fighting and so on.