Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopter 85-24336.

85-24336

Property of

C Company, 159th Aviation Regiment

"Flippers"

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

1992 - 2005

   85-24336, Boeing D model kit number M3106, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 22 March 1986. As of 1 November 1999, 85-24336 had accumulated 2,337.3 D model hours and 5,798.7 total aircraft hours.

   85-24336 was a conversion from the original A model Chinook 66-00124.

   On 15 March 1985, 85-24336 was inducted into the D model program, converted, and was initially assigned to the unit that would eventually become C Company - "Flippers", 159th Aviation Regiment, 18th Aviation Brigade, located at Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

   At some point, and as of 31 December 2003, the 18th Aviation Brigade was located at Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, and was subordinate to the 18th Airborne Corps.

   The 18th Airborne Corps was subordinate to Forces Command (FORSCOM), which was a major command (MACOM) of 2nd Army.

   C Company was the former 196th Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Flippers".

   The 196th ASHC was redesignated A Company, 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment in approximately 1988.

   In September 1996, 2nd Battalion was deactivated and the unit was redesignated A Company, 159th Aviation Regiment, and was directly subordinate to the 18th Aviation Brigade.

   In approximately November 1996, the unit was redesignated as C Company, 159th Aviation Regiment.

   On 16 June 1994, 85-24336 was involved in a Class C accident.

   While on approach to a landing zone with an M998 HUMMV as an external sling load, the M998 was inadvertantly released at 100 feet above ground level (AGL) and at 20 knots airspeed. The aircraft proceeded to a landing zone (LZ) and the crew conducted a normal shutdown. The M998 was destroyed in the incident. There was no damage to 85-24336.

   As of an unknown date, 85-24336 was assigned to an unknown unit.

   As of 1 September 2009, this aircraft was 42.8 years old.

   As of 1 September 2009, the last known location of 85-24336 was at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, undergoing RESET, and assigned to an unknown unit.

   Aircraft status: Undergoing maintenance, but otherwise flyable.

An Adventure in JRTC

Boeing CH-47D Chinook - Flipper 85-24336.

Flipper Aircraft - 85-24336.

Dateline - Louisiana (October 1999): Chinook 85-24336, destined certainly to become one of America's finest Chinook helicopters, recently underwent an unauthorized modification while on temporary duty at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Louisiana.

The Hole

The large gapping hole amidships was perhaps intended as an emergency escape from total embarrassment, but was subsequently discovered to let in too much fluid in during water landings.

SGT Bo Crumpler

Bo, a definitive CH-47 Flight Engineer who stands over 6 foot high, wonders what he should do with the wood that he found lodged in the underbelly of his baby...

Stump Jumper ?

Is 85-24336 destined to become the new replacement aircraft for the long gone Guns-A-Go-Go aircraft originally named Stump Jumper? Is this an Omen? Or just a freak accident of nature? We will keep checking with the Flipper crew to see what events materialize next and keep you informed...