CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Model Upgrades
From 1980 through 1993, the early model CH-47 Chinook helicopters were remanufactured to the CH-47D configuration. In 2005, 46 percent of the Army's CH-47D fleet was originally manufactured prior to 1966.
The CH-47D was rolled-out in March 1979, the result of June 1976 contract for a modernized Chinook. Three airframes, CH-47A, CH-47B, and a CH-47C, were stripped-down to their basic airframes and then rebuilt with improved systems to provide three CH-47D prototypes. Improvements included:
- upgraded power plant and rotor transmission
- integral lubrication and cooling for the transmission system
- fiberglass rotor blades
- redesigned cockpit to reduce pilot workload
- redundant and improved electrical system
- modularized hydraulics
- advanced flight control system
- improved avionics
The CH-47D is powered by two Allied Signal Engines T55-L-712 3750 shp turboshaft engines and has a maximun speed of 195 mph (170 knots).
Characteristics of the CH-47 Chinook are:
| Rotor diameter | 59' 1.25" (A & B); 60' (C) |
| Length | 98' 3.75" (A & B); 99' (C) |
| Basic weight | 18,500 lbs. (A); 19,194 lbs. (B); 19,772 lbs. (C) |
| Payload | 10, 114 lbs. (A); 15,900 lbs. (B); 19, 100 lbs. (C) |
| External cargo | 16,000 lbs. (A); 20,000 lbs. (B); 22,700 lbs. (C) |
| Crew | 3 |
| Passengers | 33 |
| Cruise airspeed | 110k (A); 140k (B); 150k (C) |
| Maximum airspeed | 130k (A); 165k (B & C) |
| Armament | 7.62-mm door-mounted machine gun |
CH-47F Improved Cargo Helicopter
The Army's fleet of CH-47D helicopters were upgraded to the CH-47F Improved Cargo Helicopter configurations, and new CH-47F aircraft were procured starting in 2006. The CH-47F improvements list includes:
- A new-machined airframe,
- An upgraded T55-GA-714A 4,868 hp engine to restore performance capability,
- Common Avionics Architecture System,
- Air Warrior, Common Missile Warning System,
- Enhanced air transportability features,
- Digital automatic flight control system (DAFCS), and
- An Extended Range Fuel System II for self-deployment missions.
The CH-47F also incorporates reliability and maintainability improvements including airframe tuning for vibration reduction, corrosion protection, digital source collectors, and an automated maintenance program with a 400-hour phase interval.
The CH-47F is expected to remain the Army's heavy lift helicopter until at least the 2020-2025 timeframe. The total CH-47 program remanufactures CH-47Ds (and Special Operations Command MH-47D/E) to the CH-47F (or SOC MH-47G) configuration and procures new CH-47F aircraft to meet the Army Aviation transformation full requirement for Chinook aircraft.
U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter.
U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter delivering 105-mm howitzer (towed) with ammunition pallet, Vietnam.
Troops boarding U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopters, Vietnam.
CH-47F cockpit with computer displays replacing traditional "steam gauges" and with a color map of the helicopter's course, 19 January 2005.
