CH-47D Chinook

A US soldier parachutes from a CH-47D Chinook.

The US Army CH-47D is a twin-engine, tandem rotor helicopter with the role of troop and cargo transport. The lack of a tail rotor allows for a longer than normal cabin, increasing the helicopter's cargo capacity.

The first Chinook, the CH-47A, was developed for use in Vietnam in 1962and gone through a series of improvements up to the current model, the CH-47D.

The CH-47D can accommodate up to 44 troops and carry up to 26,000lbs of stores slung from 3 cargo hooks fixed to the helicopter's belly.

With its size, power and range, the Chinook is often the only US helicopter capable of performing certain missions, be it delivering supplies across the deserts of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan.

When configured for so-called, 'Fat Cow' operations, the CH-47D can be fitted with a series of internal fuel bladders, known as Extended Range Fuel System [ERFS] and perform a refueling role at Forward Arming And Refueling Points (FAARPs).

Whilst not used gunships, the CH-47D is routinely armed with 3 machine guns, either M60D or M240D 7.62mm belt-fed guns, attached to pintle-mounts in the forward cabin windows and rear ramp.

CH-47D Specifications

With its powerful engines and large blades, the Chinook can carry heavy sling loads up to 26,000lbs.

The lumbering CH-47D makes for a big target. The helicopter's fuselage is festooned with M130 chaff and flare launchers to defeat incoming missiles.

US Army CH-47Ds are usually armed with 2 M60 or M240 7.62mm machine guns attached to pintle-mounts in windows in the helicopter's cabin.

CH-47D FEATURES removable in-flight refueling probe radar warning receivers and chaff-launchers to protect against radar-homing threats flare dispensers to defeat heat-seeking missiles sealed belly allows for amphibious operations ie can belly-land on water night-vision-goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit glass-fibre rotor blades automatic target hand-off system redundant electrical system modular hydraulic system single-point pressure refueling

U.S. Army Soldiers from 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team dismount from a CH-47D Chinook. The Chinook's hydraulic rear ramp allows for rapid mounting/dismounting of men and even vehicles such as motorbikes and 4x4s.

DoD photo by: GARY L. KIEFFER

CH-47D PHOTOS :

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photo gallery : CH-47D Chinook

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