Description:
The CH-47 Chinook is a twin-engine, tandem-rotor, heavy-lift transport helicopter in service with the US Army and other Armed Forces worldwide. It is enabled to transport ground forces, supplies, ammunition, and other battle-critical cargo. In addition, the CH-47 Chinook can be employed for medical evacuation, aircraft recovery, fire fighting, parachute drops, heavy construction, civil development, disaster relief and search and rescue.
The CH-47F is an upgraded model of proven CH-47D Chinook helicopter. The new Chinook model features reduced vibration effects, an integrated cockpit control system, and more powerful T55-GA-714A engines fitted with digital fuel control. Each engine is rated at 4,868 horsepower (shp).
The US Army plans to upgrade up to 300 existing CH-47Ds to the F configuration with the first delivery due in 2004. Entry into service is expected in 2006. The CH-47Fs will remain in service well beyond 2030. They should start enter retirement beginning in 2035.
As of January 2005, the latest US Army's acquisition plan approved the increase of the Chinook fleet from 463 to 513 aircraft. The plan included upgrade of the entire fleet of 397 CH-47Ds to the F-model configuration and acquisition of at least 55 additional new-build CH-47Fs. The US Special Operations Command will increase their current fleet of 34 MH-47D/E special operations heavy assault Chinooks to 61 MH-47Gs, with options on further aircraft.
As of April 2008, overall value of the CH-47F program was set at $13.35 billion for approximately 513 helicopters. The first production CH-47F helicopter was unveiled by Boeing in June 2006.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 3, Passengers 33
Dimensions: Height 5.5 m, Length 30.2 m, Main Rotor Diameter 18.3 m, Width 3.6 m
Weights: Max Weight 22,680 kg (50,000 lb), Min Weight 10,615 kg (23,402 lb), Payload 21,000 lb (9,526 kg)
Performance: Cruise Speed 74 mps (265 kph), Radius of Operation 400 nautical mile (), Top Speed 175 mph (282 kph)
CH-47F (NL) program will provide six new-build CH-47Fs equipped with next-generation Honeywell Avionics Control and Management System (ACMS) cockpit avionics suite, an integrated forward-looking infrared capability and several other newly developed multi-mission features. These aircraft will serve with the Royal Netherlands Air Force 298 Squadron based at Soesterberg Air Force Base.
Specific equipment
AN/AAR-54
United States of America / 513
Includes 59 new build CH-47F helicopters
As of
Holdings
2008
48
Image Gallery
Notes (*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Netherlands / 6 / 
United States of America / 513 
Includes 59 new build CH-47F helicopters