| |
Boeing CH-47F Model Chinook Helicopters |
| |
In service to the United States Army |
| |
D Model airframes being scrapped at Summit Aviation Incorporated, located on Summit Airport (KEVY), near Middletown, Delaware, as the F model Chinook helicopter is undergoing production, circa 2008-2009. |
| |
|
As of December 2002, two CH-47F model prototype helicopters were produced - 98-00011 and 98-00012. Both were conversions from D model helicopters. After much test and analysis a third test aircraft was produced - 03-08003. This F minus aircraft was utilized for further test and evaluation of new systems and software, as well as for |
| |
extensive training of new air crews. 03-08003 travelled the country from installation to installation participating in the initial training of many a new aviator and flight engineer. By Spring 2010, at least 85 F model production aircraft were fielded. Units at Fort Campbell (Kentucky) were the first equipped with the latest Chinook helicopter followed by units at Food Hood (Texas), Fort Bragg (North Carolina), again at Fort Campbell, and then Fort Drum (New York). On 17 January 2009, one airframe, 05-08012, was shot down in combat. |
| |
Of interest to note: Aircraft with tail numbers XX-0x0xx (or otherwise known as 8000 series tail numbers, as in 08-08046) are new build airframe aircraft with used parts. The D Model airframe was cannibalized as necessary for the parts. Parts used included such components as the windows, fuel pods, the power train (drive shafts, transmission, heads, blades, etc.), engines, and various hydraulic system items. The original airframe was scrapped. The cannibalization and scrapping of the airframe occurred primarily at Summit Aviation, Middletown, Delaware. As of the mid 2010, the cost of a CH-47F new airframe helicopter with used parts delivered at the Ridley Park facility to the U.S. Army was approximately $18,125,000.00. |
| |
Later during manufacture, as the list of tail numbers grew, those aircraft that contained the suffix 8100 and so forth (such as 12-08100) also were new build airframes with used dynamic components. |
| |
Aircraft with tail numbers XX-0x7xx (or otherwise known as 8700 series tail numbers, as in 06-08718) are new build airframes with all brand new components. As of the mid 2010, the cost of a CH-47F new build helicopter delivered at the Ridley Park facility to the U.S. Army was approximately $25,400,000.00. |
| |
As the list of tail numbers continued to grow, those aircraft that contained the suffix 8800 and so forth (such as 09-08800) also were new build airframes with all new components. |
| |
By June 2012, the base cost of a production CH-47F was $30,000,000. Prior to delivery to the gaining unit, Boeing installed four additional avionics components (APX-118 Transponder - $47,553; two each ARC-201 SINCGARS Radio - $120,692; ARC-231 Radio - $46,217) and performed several Modification Work Orders (MWOs) at the Boeing Modification Center located at the Millville Municipal Airport (KMIV) in New Jersey for an unknown dollar amount. An additional cost for the electronic logbook was $5,207.58 |
| |
Applied MWOs included a Strap Modification to enhance the structure to prevent cracks of the fuselage aft of the engines and the A Kit installation provisions for the Infra-Red Suppression System (IRSS) to reduce the heat signature of the engine exhaust. |
| |
Read a brief summary of the disposition of the F model Chinook helicopter - Click-N-Go Here. |
| |
268 Airframes known as March 2014 |
| |
Click-N-Go on an underlined tail number to read more about a specific Chinook. |
| |
The CH-47F New Equipment Training Team |
| |
26 April 2010 - Fort Drum, New York: Personnel assigned to the New Equipment Training Team (NETT) providing flight instruction to the various CH-47F units as the F model was fielded around the world. From left to right (front row, kneeling): Chad Cox (SI), George Hall (SI), Jason Sims (SI), Brian Douglas (FE), Kevin Ivey (SP/IE), (back row, standing) Ralph Graham (ME), Andy Mankie (SP/IE), Rob Simpson (SI), Dave Ryan (ME), Tim McCall (SP/IE/ME), Deleted for Cause, Clay Webster (SP/IE), Z Szumigala (IP), Ken Botz (SI), Robert Muller (SI), Mark Morgan (IP/ME). Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image. |
| |
Personnel on the NET Team not pictured above were D.J. Watson (SP/IE), Blackwater Bruce Cain (SI), Viron Green (SI), Barry Escholz (SP/IE), Doug Grade (SI). |
| |
4 October 2010 - Millville, New Jersey: Personnel assigned to the New Equipment Training Team (NETT) providing flight instruction to the various CH-47F units as the F model was fielded around the world. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image. Click-N-Go Here to view an image that is labeled. |
| |
22 March 2012 - Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia: Personnel assigned to the New Equipment Training Team (NETT) providing flight instruction to the various CH-47F units as the F model was fielded around the world. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image. |
| |
17 October 2012 - Fort Riley, Kansas: Personnel assigned to the New Equipment Training Team (NETT), Team 2, who provided flight instruction to the various CH-47F units as the F model was fielded around the world, pose in front of CH-47F 10-08802. Back row (left to right): Bill Graham (ME), Sam Blakely (SP), Don Rives (Ops), Roy Payne (SI), Bob Muller (SI), Rich Feltzer (MP), Bruce Cain(SI), Bill Cagle (SI), Andy Mankie (SP/IE/DFO). Front row (left to right) Russ Stark (SP/IE), Barry Elsholtz (SP/IE), Tim Coffman (SI), Wade Cothron (SI), Mark Morgan (IP/ME), George Hall (SI), Chad Cox (SI). Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image. |
| |
17 October 2012 - Fort Wainwright, Alaska: Personnel assigned to the New Equipment Training Team (NETT), Team 1, who provided flight instruction to the various CH-47F units as the F model was fielded around the world. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image. |
| |
13 September 2013 - A photograph of the ferry flight crew members who also participated in the fielding of the CH-47F Chinook helicopter to B Company "Innkeepers" 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), 2nd Aviation Regiment, located at Camp Humprhreys, Republic of Korea from Fall 2013 to Spring 2014. Front row (L-R) Noel Cabias (SI), Doug Grade (SI), Ken Lynch (MP)1, Jason Trombly (IP), Jeff Mouser (SP), Back row (L-R) Tim McCall (SP/IE/ME), Ahmad Upshaw (SP), Beth McCune (IP)2, (Mark Morgan (IP/ME), Z Szumigala (SP/IE), Rich Felter (MP), Bill Cagle (SI), Tim Coffman (SI), Mario Sarria (SI), Wade Cothran (SI), Bill Graham (ME). Conspicuously absent in the photograph is Vic Estrada (SI) who also deployed to Korea. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.
1 Initially not a member of the Korea NETT, but later joined to Team in Korea.
2 Not a member of the Korea NETT. |
| |
From the begining of the CH-47F fielding program, the NET Team members were aircrew instructors employed by S3 Incorporated and operating under contract from the CH-47F Cargo Program Managers Office, part of the Aviation Missile Command (AMCOM) located at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. S3 lost the contract to provide the NET Team in October 2012 and S3 involvement in the program ended on 6 November 2012. It is hard to dodge a bullet fired from a gun you can't hear...
See the article on the CH-47F Fielding in Hawaii.
See the article on the CH-47F Fielding in Alaska.
See the article on the CH-47F Fielding in Kansas.
See the article on the CH-47F Fielding in Korea. |
| |
The CH-47F Chinook helicopter takes to the sky. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image. |
| |
|
Click-N-Go Here to view a video of a CH-47F Chinook helicopter undergoing engine start. [2:31, 18.5 Mb, audio included]. |
| |
Comments or Questions ? |
 |
Email the Webmaster. |
