Fleet Historical Summary

 

- In Service to the United States Army -

 

 

Bound for Battle, August 1965: The USS Boxer departing Mayport Naval Base, near Jacksonville, Florida, enroute to the Republic of Vietnam with a deck full of the newly formed 1st Cavalry Division's aircraft. The USS Boxer carried 1,200 personnel, 205 helicopters and 6 airplanes to the combat zone. Aircraft on the flight deck included 6 OV-1 Mohawks (dark colored - forward); 4 CH-54 Skycranes (white - just forward of island); 56 CH-47 Chinooks (dark colored - amidships and aft) and 36 UH-1 Hueys (white - amidships and forward). The remaining 109 helicopters were presumably stowed below on the Boxer's hangar deck. Other assets belonging the the 1st Cav were loaded aboard three other Military Sea Transportation Service vessels. When the USS Boxer departed port, it carried 50 percent of the Chinook fleet in existence at the time, as only 120 had been produced by August 1965, the first 6 airframes having been prototype test aircraft, and 6 other airframes which had already been lost in accidents. Hover your mouse over the picture to reveal the second image.

 

 

A Time-Tested and Proven Provider

 

The oldest operational Chinook, originally the 13th A model manufactured - now a D model, is 40 years old. The youngest is not quite a year old as of December 2002. The average age of the Chinook fleet exceeds 30 years. Most presently operational airframes have experienced combat action, either in Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, or Panama. Many of those that operated in Vietnam bear the scars of battle in the form of skin patches covering bullet holes and flak damage readily apparent to even the casual observer. Most recently, the CH-47D and E model Chinooks have experienced demanding operational usage (equating to high structural stresses and fatigue damage) in and around Afghanistan. Equipped with the newer L714 engines, the Chinook is the only aircraft that can operate with relative ease in the rugged, high mountainous regions within the central Asian theater. The Chinook, as a prime mover and combat multiplier, has demonstrated its vast potential to the astute ground commander on many occasions and in many regions of the world.

 

 

CH-47A

 

	Manufactured:	355
	Losses prior to delivery:	3
	Delivered to Air Force or Army:	352
	Post-delivery losses:
	Accidents:	13
	Vietnam:	154
	Unaccounted for:	9
	Converted to:
	CH-47D models:	165
	MH-47D models:	6
	Remaining in museums (not flyable):	4
	CAT C Training Device (59-04986):	1

 

355 A model CH-47 Chinook helicopters were produced. The first airframe experienced an accident during the initial ground run, damaging the airframe to such an extent that it would never fly. As a result, it was tied securely to the ground and was utilized as a test device. This led to the second airframe becoming the first to fly on 21 September 1961. Never assigned a serial number, Boeing build number B-006 was tested to destruction without ever attaining any flight time. One airframe crashed during a Boeing Company test flight prior to delivery. Due to the status of those three airframes, 352 airframes were delivered to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) or U.S. Army. Subsequent to their delivery, six of the earliest units were scraped at various points after they underwent testing and evaluation by the USAF, and remain unaccounted for. Two airframes were sold to Thailand and one airframe was sold to the United Kingdom (UK) - all three of which remain unaccounted for. 13 airframes were lost due to accidents in the United States (10), the Republic of South Korea (1), and West Germany (2). 154 airframes were lost in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). Of these, 53 airframes were lost due to accidents, 1 airframe was destroyed to prevent enemy capture, 33 airframes were destroyed on the ground by enemy activity, 33 airframes were shot down, and 34 airframes were transferred to the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) and continue unaccounted for. Beginning in the early 1980s, 165 airframes, including one prototype, were converted to D model helicopters and six were converted to MH-47D helicopters. Five A model Chinooks still exist. Three airframes are located in museums. Two at the Army Aviation Museum located at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and one near San Luis Obispo, California. One airframe, the sole surviving Guns-A-Go-Go, is located outside the CH-47 Program Managers Office at Redstone Arsenal, near Huntsville, Alabama. One airframe is being utilized as a CAT C Structural Repair Training Device at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

Click-N-Go Here to read more on the disposition of the CH-47A.

 

 

CH-47B

 

	Manufactured:	108
	Losses prior to delivery:	0
	Delivered to Army:	108
	Post-delivery losses:
	Accidents:	4
	Vietnam:	27
	Unaccounted for:	1
	Converted to:
	CH-47D	76
	Remaining:	0

 

108 B model CH-47 Chinook helicopters were produced. 108 airframes were delivered to the U.S Army. Subsequent to their delivery, four airframes were lost due to accidents in the United States (3) and Columbia, South America (1). One airframe was sold to the UK and remains unaccounted for. 27 airframes were lost in the RVN. Of these, 14 airframes were lost due to accidents, four were destroyed on the ground by enemy activity, and nine airframes were shot down. Beginning in the early 1980s, 76 B model airframes were converted to D model Chinook helicopters, one of which was a prototype airframe only and wound up becoming a Category B maintenance training device at Fort Eustis, Virginia - and never becoming a full production D model. There are no surviving B model helicopters that were manufactured for the U.S. Army.

Click-N-Go Here to read more on the disposition of the CH-47B.

 

 

CH-47C

 

	Manufactured:	270
	Losses prior to delivery:	1
	Delivered to Army:	269
	Post-delivery losses:
	Accidents:	16
	Vietnam:	37
	North Korea:	1
	Converted to:
	CH-47D:	185
	MH-47D:	6
	MH-47E:	24
	Remaining:	0

 

270 C model CH-47 Chinook helicopters were produced. One airframe crashed during a Boeing Company test flight. As a result, 269 C models were delivered to the U.S. Army. Subsequent to their delivery, 16 airframes were lost due to accidents in the United States (7), West Germany (4), Columbia, South America (1), Panama (1), Peru (1), and the Republic of South Korea (2). 1 airframe was destroyed by North Korean forces when it inadvertently crossed the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and landed in North Korea. 37 airframes were lost in the RVN. Of these, three were lost due to unknown causes and remain unaccounted for, 20 airframes were lost due to accidents, 1 was destroyed to prevent enemy capture, and 13 airframes were shot down. Beginning in the early 1980s, 185 C model airframes, including one prototype, were converted to D models, six airframes were converted to MH-47D models, one airframe was converted to an E model prototype, and 23 airframes were converted to E model Chinook helicopters during the production run. There are no surviving C model Chinooks that were manufactured for the U.S. Army.

Click-N-Go Here to read more on the disposition of the CH-47C.

 

 

CH-47D

 

	Produced by conversion:	441
	Manufactured as new:	3
	Total produced:	444
	Losses prior to delivery:	1
	Delivered to Army:	443
	Post-delivery losses:
	Accidents:	23
	Shot Down:	2
	Converted to:
	CH-47F:	2
	MH-47G:	1
	Remaining:	415

 

A total of 447 D model Chinook helicopters were produced, including with the three 1976 prototypes that led to the production runs beginning in the early 1980s, continuing through the mid 1990s. The three prototypes were given new serial numbers during the prototype period. Two prototype airframes were later re-inducted into the D model program after testing to complete the D model conversion, again receiving new serial numbers. One prototype airframe, the B model, was not inducted again, becoming a Category B maintenance training device assigned to Fort Eustis. One airframe was lost when it crashed during a Boeing Company test flight. As a result, 445 airframes were delivered to the U.S Army. The deliveries included 426 airframes that were previously U.S. Army owned A (165), B (76), and C (185) model airframes. Also included in the conversion process were nine CH-47C airframes manufactured by Augusta and intended for the Shah of Iran prior to his displacement as head of state, and seven CH-47C airframes previously owned by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), that were purchased in 1985 and 1991, respectively. This brought the total number of converted airframes to 442. The D model production line eventually included three newly manufactured D model airframes, raising the total number of delivered airframes to 445. The extra numbers apparent in the total count above (447) are a result of two prototypes (the A and C models) receiving new serial numbers when they were inducted into the final D model production line. 443 production D models were delivered the the U.S. Army (445 actual airframes minus the pre-delivery Boeing Company crash and the B model prototype). As a side note, two of the newly manufactured airframes, delivered in 1994, were the first original Chinook airframes produced since the last C model was completed in 1979 - a time span of 15 years. The final and most recent D model airframe was delivered to the U.S. Army in 2002, made up mostly from left over parts laying around the Ridley Park production facility. Subsequent to their delivery, 23 airframes have been lost due to accidents, 1 airframe was shot down in Iraq, and 1 airframe was shot down in Afghanistan. Two have been converted to F models and one was converted to a G model. As of May 2006, there were 415 surviving D model airframes.

Click-N-Go Here to read more on the disposition of the CH-47D.

 

 

MH-47D

 

	Produced by conversion:	12
	Losses prior to delivery:	0
	Delivered to Army:	12
	Post-delivery losses:
	Accidents:	2
	Shot Down:	1
	Remaining:	9

 

Twelve MH-47D model Chinook helicopters were produced. All were conversions from previously U.S. Army owned A (6) and C (6) model airframes. 12 MH-47D helicopters were delivered. Subsequent to delivery, two airframes crashed and one was shot down. As of May 2006, there were nine surviving MH-47D Chinooks.

Click-N-Go Here to read more on the disposition of the MH-47D.

 

 

MH-47E

 

An MH-47E Chinook - Out there, somewhere - protecting the Nation.

 

 

	Produced by conversion:	26
	Losses prior to delivery:	0
	Delivered to Army:	26
	Post-delivery losses:
	Accidents:	2
	Combat:	1
	Remaining:	23

 

In 1988, one MH-47E Chinook helicopter prototype was produced from a converted from a C model airframe. The early to mid 1990s production run of MH-47E Chinook helicopters included an additional 25 airframes. All production run airframes were conversions from C models, two of which were Augusta built airframes originally destined for Iran, but not delivered due to the Shah of Iran being deposed. 26 E model helicopters were delivered. Subsequent to delivery, three E model airframes have been lost. Two airframes were lost due to accidents - one in the United States and one in the Philippines. One airframe was shot down in Afghanistan and later destroyed. As of May 2006, there were 23 surviving E model helicopters, including the one prototype model.

Click-N-Go Here to read more on the disposition of the MH-47E.

 

 

CH-47F

 

	Produced by conversion:	2
	Losses prior to delivery:	0
	Delivered to Army:	2
	Post-delivery losses:	0
	Remaining:	2

 

The F model upgrade program was designed to enhance and extend the life of the aging D model fleet. The original plan called for converting 432 D models to F models. In early 2002, two F model Chinook helicopters were delivered to the U.S. Army for qualification testing. Both airframes were conversions from earlier U.S. Army owned aircraft. One was originally an A model, then a D model. The other was previously a B model and later became a D model. As of May 2006: there were 2 surviving F model helicopters.

 

 

CH-47G

 

	Produced by conversion:	25
	Losses prior to delivery:	0
	Delivered to Army:	25
	Post-delivery losses:
	Accidents:	1
	Remaining:	24

 

The G model upgrade program was designed to enhance and extend the life of the aging Chinook fleet. The G model was originally intended to replace the special operations E model fleet. In early 2004, one G model Chinook helicopter [00-02160] was delivered to the U.S. Army for qualification testing. The airframe was a conversion from an earlier U.S. Army owned D model helicopter [86-01678]. By March 2006, 25 G model Chinook helicopters had been delivered to the U.S. Army. Subsequent to their delivery, one aircraft was lost due to an accident. As of May 2006, there were 24 surviving G model Chinook helicopters.

 

 

Fleet History

 

 

	Total original airframes Boeing manufactured (A, B, C, D):	736
	Total airframes acquired [RAAF (7) and Augusta (11)]:	18
	Total airframes developed for U.S. Air Force and Army:	754
	Total airframes lost prior to delivery:	5
	Total airframes delivered:	749
	Total airframe losses post-delivery (9 unaccounted for):	304
	Total airframes remaining in service (See note 1):	445
	Total Production D, MH-D, E, F, and G models (See Note 2):	506
	Total unique serial numbers assigned (See note 3):	1,247

 

 

Notes:

 

 

1. This figure is accurate as of May 2006. In service includes those airframes that are flyable, in overhaul or rebuild undergoing maintenance, and Category B/C maintenance training devices (389 D models, 1 D model prototype (formerly a B model - now Cat C), 9 MH-D models, 23 E models, 2 F models, 24 G models). The latest airframe to be destroyed was 03-03729.

2. Obtained via conversion of earlier A (165 to D, 6 to MH-D), B (75 to D), C (185 to D, 6 to MH-D, 24 to E), D (2 to F) models, Augusta airframes (9 to D, 2 to E), Royal Australian Air Force airframes (7 to D), and D to G model conversion (25). Does not include 3 D model prototype serial numbers, as they were not production runs.

3. Due to the various conversion programs, the total number of airframes receiving unique serial (tail) numbers exceeds those airframes actually manufactured. When an airframe is converted, a new serial number is assigned. This figure includes all serial numbers from original manufacture (354 A, 108 B, 270 C, 3 D), 3 D model prototypes (1 - A, 1 - B, 1 - C), conversion to D (444), conversion to MH-D (12), conversion to E (26), conversion to F (2), and conversion to G (25). Boeing build number B-006, which was tested to destruction, did not receive a serial number. Does not include the 11 airframe serial numbers acquired from Augusta or the 7 airframe serial numbers acquired from the Royal Australian Air Force since they were not manufactured originally for the U.S. Army. However, it does include them after they were modified, assigned new tail numbers (16 to D and 2 to E), and delivered to the U.S. Army.

 

 

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