Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopter 10-08083.

10-08083

The unit patch of B Company - "Sugar Bears", 1st General support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), 52nd Aviation Regiment unit patch circa May 2012. Click-N-Go Here to view more unit patches.

Property of

B Company - "Sugar Bears"

1st General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB)

52nd Aviation Regiment

Fort Wainwright, Alaska

2012

29 March 2012: A slightly used CH-47F Chinook helicopter 10-08083 rests on the ramp at Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Stewart, Georgia, awaiting its ferry flight departure to Alaska. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

   10-08083, Boeing Vertol Tab Number M8083, was a CH-47F helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 28 September 2011 at 13.3 aircraft hours. As of 10 May 2012, 10-08083 accumulated 93.8 aircraft hours.

   10-08083 was a new build airframe with used dynamic components (engines, drive train and some hydraulic components) installed.

   At some point in 2011 after modifications (M4 Gun Mount, IRSS, ARC-231, Fifth Sensor, Left/Right Cabin Door Gunner's Seat) were completed at Millville Airport, New Jersey, 10-08083 was flown to Hunter Army Airfield (AAF), near Savannah, Georgia.

   At Hunter AAF, 10-08083 was utilized extensively for the training of multiple flight crews undergoing CH-47F Aircraft Qualification conducted by members of S3 Incorporated New Equipment Training Team (NETT). The NET Team was under contract from the Project Managers Office - Cargo Helcopters, Aviation Missile Command (AMCOM), located at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, to conduct the worldwide fielding and training for the CH-47F Chinook helicopter.

   In April 2012, 10-08083 was transferred to Company B - "Sugar Bears", 1st General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), 52nd Aviation Regiment, Ladd Field, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, to support the NETT training of that unit. The aircraft arrived at Ladd Field at 91.7 aircraft hours, having accumulated 30.2 hours on the Georgia to Alaska Ferry Flight.

   Tasked by the Program Managers Office, the NET Team - led by Tim McCall (Director of Flight Operations for the CH-47F NET Team) - formulated a plan to ferry the aircraft from Hunter AAF via the Alaska Canada (ALCAN) Highway. 10-08083 was Chalk 3 in a flight of four, part of Sortie 1 of three sorties.

   The flight departed Hunter AAF on 10 April and arrived at Ladd Field on 18 April 2012. There were five flight days and three weather hold days.

   Enroute to Alaska, 10-08083 experienced a few minor maintenance issues and one pilot induced complication.

   The chief maintenance issue was the illumination of the DASH 1 Fail caution as a result of the Number One Proximity Switch failing to cycle properly. It eventually corrected itself during the flight.

   The pilot induced complication was the failure of the Extended Range Fuel System II (ERFS II) failing to feed. After some time had passed, the pilot reported the Auxiliary Feed Gang Bar Circuit Breaker was in the down position. Once placed in the proper position, the tank fed as designed.

   As of 22 April 2012, the last known location of 10-08083 was at Ladd Field.

   Aircraft status: Flyable.

10 April 2012: CH-47F Chinook helicopter 10-08083 in flight just north of Hunter Army Airfield as Sortie 1 begins the first leg enroute to Alaska. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

10 April 2012: CH-47F Chinook helicopter 10-08083 refueling at Fort Campbell (KHOP), Kentucky, while enroute to Alaska. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

11 April 2012: Flight Engineer Doug Grade prepares CH-47F Chinook helicopter 10-08083 for an early morning flight from Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS) to Sioux City (KSUX), Iowa. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

11 April 2012: CH-47F Chinook helicopter 10-08083, as Chalk 3, accompanies Sortie 1 across northern Missouri enroute to Sioux City, Iowa. Numerous windmill farms were spotted along the route. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

11 April 2012: Sortie 1 pilots discuss the situation next to CH-47F Chinook helicopter 10-08083 on the ramp at Sioux City Airport. From left to right is: Ken Scull, CW4 Bruce Linton, Tim McCall, LTC Brad Killen, Tom Miskowiec. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

11 April 2012: Flight Engineer Doug Grade puts 10-08083 to bed as Rich Davis III steps out the main cabin door while parked on the ramp at Rapid City (KRAP), South Dakota. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

11 April 2012: The ramp tongue on 10-08083 failed to retract on shutdown at KRAP and the Flight Engineer could not seem to get it to operate properly. The Boeing maintenance team jumped on the bird and quickly repaired the broken chain under ramp floor. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

The following CH-47F Chinook helicopters were fielded to B Company - "Sugar Bears", 1st General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), 52nd Aviation Regiment, located on Ladd Field, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, beginning in April 2012 and used to support the unit train-up. Airframes are routinely reassigned as necessary so there is no telling where there are now.