Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopter 81-23381.

81-23381

   81-23381, Boeing D model kit number M3004, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 31 March 1982. As of 1 January 2003, 81-23381 had accumulated 600.8 D model hours and 3,249.0 total aircraft hours.

   81-23381 was a conversion from the original A model Chinook 66-19025.

   81-23381 was first D model production aircraft on contract DAAK50-80-C-0029, a nine airframe buy.

   On 5 September 1980, 81-23381 was inducted into the D model program, converted, and initially assigned to Fort Rucker, Alabama.

   While at Fort Rucker, 81-23381 was assigned to the Aviation Development Test Center (ADTC), commonly known as the "Test Activity", as was designated as Bearcat 5.

   At some point (approximately mid-1980s), 81-23381 was transferred to Fort Eustis, Virginia, and was utilized as a ground training device in the 67U aircraft maintenance course. While there, 81-23381 retained the large number 5 painted in white on the side of the fuselage, denoting it as Bearcat 5.

   In approximately 2000, 81-23381 was transferred to Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), located at Corpus Christi, Texas, for On Condition Maintenance (OCM) and the installation of Honeywell T55-GA-714A engines.

   At some point (in approximately 2000), 81-23381 was transferred to Fort Rucker and assigned to the United States Army Aviation Technical Test Center (USAATTC), formerly the Aviation Development Test Center, and was then designated as Bearcat One.

   As a Bearcat aircraft, 81-23381 was utilized in various airworthiness flight test procedures.

   In approximately 2000 to 2001, 81-23381 was on loan to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to participate in the high altitude drop testing of the X-40A space vehicle at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Subsequently, 81-23381 was returned to the USAATTC.

   At some point (in approximately 2011), 81-23381 was transferred to Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, and assigned to the United States Aviation Flight Test Directorate (AFTD), formerly the Aviation Development Test Center of Fort Rucker, and remained designated as Bearcat One.

   As of 22 February 2014, this aircraft was 47.2 years old.

   As of 22 February 2014, the last known location of 81-23381 was at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

   Aircraft status: Flyable.

On 31 January 2001, CW4 Larry G. Butler pilots Bearcat 1 as it slings the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) experimental X-40A spacecraft in the vicinity of the Dryden Space Center. The X-40A was lifted to 18,000 feet and released to test the ability of the craft to return to Earth. This was Larry's last flight while on active duty with the U.S. Army.