RAF Chinook 40 Years Service

[slogen51]

A RAF Chinook has a Union Jack tail to celebrate 40+ years of RAF Chinook service according to :

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/serco-c ... -painting/

The photo isn't very clear but the serial looks like ZD984

According to Wiki the Chinook entered service in 1980 and we have some more on order!

[Supra]

Correct... ZD984. Refer to https://twitter.com/RAF_Odiham/status/1 ... _&ref_url=
Or see the Post on UKAR ?

[Neil D]

Luckily got it on the flight after air test.

https://twitter.com/Chiv63/status/13900 ... 37921?s=19

Neil

[SpilsbyPete]

Looks Good

I just hope we get to see it around the country.
We hardly ever saw the other marked up machines in the past

[SW Sky Blue]

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=204542

I was surprised to see it in Devon on Wednesday

[turmo]

We should really have been at 52 years service!

The very first RAF Chinook order was placed in March 1967, for 15 CH-47B models, after competition with the Super Frelon. The squadron was intended to be based at Singapore from 1969 to replace Belvederes, so presumably 66 Sqn was earmarked. But that order was cancelled by the end of 1967 with a hefty fee paid. Unsurprisingly so, as Boeing had spent nearly $10 million up to that point on integrating British avionics in anticipation of the order.

The second attempt was in 1972 - 74, when the -47C was chosen over the CH-53D after extensive trials and demonstrations. But the 1974 Defence Review struck that from the budget before it could even be ordered.

Finally in 1978 the UK ordered 33 -47C/D hybrids, the first of which was ZA672 which arrived via shipping container through Southampton in December 1980. UK offset work on the order was about 30%, or $50 million.

The RAF version was based on the Canadian 50.000lb variant which already had hoist, contingency power, AFCS and improved water-ops kit, but added:

• triple hooks

• central aisle seats

• rotor brake

• impact-attenuating cockpit seats

• segmented cockpit lighting to allow one pilot to use NVG

• improved fire suppression with the Cobra system in the sponsons

• audio fire warning

• windscreen wipers

• Mother Cow on-ground mutual refuelling system

• provision for the GFRP blades

[TonyO]

We should really have been at 52 years service!

The very first RAF Chinook order was placed in March 1967, for 15 CH-47B models, after competition with the Super Frelon. The squadron was intended to be based at Singapore from 1969 to replace Belvederes, so presumably 66 Sqn was earmarked. But that order was cancelled by the end of 1967 with a hefty fee paid. Unsurprisingly so, as Boeing had spent nearly $10 million up to that point on integrating British avionics in anticipation of the order.

The second attempt was in 1972 - 74, when the -47C was chosen over the CH-53D after extensive trials and demonstrations. But the 1974 Defence Review struck that from the budget before it could even be ordered.

Finally in 1978 the UK ordered 33 -47C/D hybrids, the first of which was ZA672 which arrived via shipping container through Southampton in December 1980. UK offset work on the order was about 30%, or $50 million.

The RAF version was based on the Canadian 50.000lb variant which already had hoist, contingency power, AFCS and improved water-ops kit, but added:

• triple hooks

• central aisle seats

• rotor brake

• impact-attenuating cockpit seats

• segmented cockpit lighting to allow one pilot to use NVG

• improved fire suppression with the Cobra system in the sponsons

• audio fire warning

• windscreen wipers

• Mother Cow on-ground mutual refuelling system

• provision for the GFRP blades

Epic post, had no idea.

[Mark]

That must have been a darn big shipping container!!

[raptor9]

Just had one straight over my bungalow at about 100'!!!. Chedburgh near Bury St eds.

[gamecock]

Very interesting turmo. I would have thought an audible fire warning system and a rotor brake would be standard fit, not optional extras! Windscreen wipers very handy for the UK as well.

[Ravendriver2008]

We should really have been at 52 years service!

The very first RAF Chinook order was placed in March 1967, for 15 CH-47B models, after competition with the Super Frelon. The squadron was intended to be based at Singapore from 1969 to replace Belvederes, so presumably 66 Sqn was earmarked. But that order was cancelled by the end of 1967 with a hefty fee paid. Unsurprisingly so, as Boeing had spent nearly $10 million up to that point on integrating British avionics in anticipation of the order.

The second attempt was in 1972 - 74, when the -47C was chosen over the CH-53D after extensive trials and demonstrations. But the 1974 Defence Review struck that from the budget before it could even be ordered.

Finally in 1978 the UK ordered 33 -47C/D hybrids, the first of which was ZA672 which arrived via shipping container through Southampton in December 1980. UK offset work on the order was about 30%, or $50 million.

The RAF version was based on the Canadian 50.000lb variant which already had hoist, contingency power, AFCS and improved water-ops kit, but added:

• triple hooks

• central aisle seats

• rotor brake

• impact-attenuating cockpit seats

• segmented cockpit lighting to allow one pilot to use NVG

• improved fire suppression with the Cobra system in the sponsons

• audio fire warning

• windscreen wipers

• Mother Cow on-ground mutual refuelling system

• provision for the GFRP blades

Laughingly it would have been the Fleet Air Arm be the first customer and first ASW Chinook if it ever went to fruition. The FAA was looking for a large ASW helo for the proposed CVA-01 which sadly never got built. In his biography the the late Eric ‚Winkle‘ Brown went to the states on a fact finding trip for the admiralty for FAA procurement in May 62 he went to Philadelphia to fly the YCH-47A and was impressed but was concerned at the mechanical complexity. He also went onto Sikorsky at Stratford to fly the Sikorsky S-61A.

Cheers

[Sparts99]

".......when the -47C was chosen over the CH-53D......." I'd love to see a Ch-53 in an RAF scheme.

[The Meat]

1st Airframe Handover by Andy Purbrick, on Flickr

First airframe gets handed over at Boeing Vertol plant in Philadelphia.

[Skywatcher]

Where would we be without the mighty Chinook ? I’m looking forward to seeing the upgraded ones ,the paint scheme looks smart to
Hopefully it will have some flyovers and events to go to later this year

[Ravendriver2008]

https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/1- ... pyMFrINUMI