Camp Humphreys Receives F Model Chinooks

 

 

         
Aircrews from the CH-47F Chinook helicopter New Equipment Training Team (NETT) preflight 12 airframes that will be flown to the docks at the Port of Baltimore over the next three days.

             11 September 2013: Aircrews from the CH-47F Chinook helicopter New Equipment Training Team (NETT) preflight 12 airframes that will be flown to the docks at the Port of Baltimore over the next three days. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

          Baltimore Port Operations

 

 

             Beginning on 10 September 2013, aircrews of the CH-47F New Equipment Training Team (NETT) relocated from Hunter Army Airfield (KSVN), near Savannah, Georgia, to Millville Municipal Airport (KMIV), Millville, New Jersey, to begin the process of preflighting and flying 12 brand new Chinook helicopters to the Port of Baltimore, Maryland. The new aircraft would then be loaded aboard a surface vessel - The Lightning - and transported to the Port of Busan, Republic of Korea.

 

             After a full day of travel through Atlanta International Airport (KATL) and Philidelphia International Airport (KPHI), the aircrews arrived at their hotel - the Holiday Inn in Millville. Preflight and possible flight operations were scheduled the following morning.

 

 

          Aircrews

 

 

         
Aircrew members from the CH-47F Chinook helicopter New Equipment Training Team (NETT) who were involved in the movement of the new Chinook helicopters to the Port of Baltimore.

             Aircrew members from the CH-47F Chinook helicopter New Equipment Training Team (NETT) who were involved in the movement of the new Chinook helicopters to the Port of Baltimore. Front row (left to right): Noel Cabias (Flight Engineer), Doug Grade (Standardization Instructor), Ken Lynch (Maintenance Test Pilot), Jason Trombly (Instructor Pilot), Jeff Mouser (Instructor Pilot). Back Row (left to right): Tim McCall (Standardization Pilot), Ahmad Upshaw (Standardization Pilot), Beth McCune (Pilot), Mark Morgan (Maintenance Examiner/Instructor Pilot), Z Szumigala (Standardization Pilot), Rich Feltzer (Maintenance Test Pilot), Bill Cagle (Standardization Instructor), Tim Coffman (Standardization Instructor), Mario Sarria (Flight Engineer), Wade Cothran (Flight Engineer), Bill Graham (Maintenance Examiner). Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

          Preflight

 

 

             Preflight began in the early morning hours of 11 September with all aircraft inspection complete by 12:00 hours. This afforded the opportunity to take lunch at Verna's Flight Line Restaurant on the airport (strongly recommended) and make one flight to the docks that afternoon.

 

 

         
11 September 2013: Rich Feltzer, NET Team Maintenance Test Pilot, preflights CH-47F Chinook helicopter 12-08106.

             11 September 2013: Rich Feltzer, NET Team Maintenance Test Pilot, preflights CH-47F Chinook helicopter 12-08106. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
11 September 2013: Tim Coffman, Flight Engineer, walks away from CH-47F Chinook helicopter 12-08103 and a hot and humid day.

             11 September 2013: Tim Coffman, Flight Engineer, walks away from CH-47F Chinook helicopter 12-08103 and a hot and humid day. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

          Sortie 1

 

 

         
11 September 2013: A map showing the intermediate destination of the new airframes - the Port of Baltimore, about an hour's flight from Millville. Here the aircraft were placed aboard a ship and transported to the Republic of Korea.

             11 September 2013: A map showing the intermediate destination of the new airframes - the Port of Baltimore, about an hour's flight from Millville. Here the aircraft were placed aboard a ship and transported to the Republic of Korea. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

             The following four CH-47F Chinook helicopters were ferried, in chalk order, from Millville Airport to the docks at the Port of Baltimore on 11 September 2013:

 

 

         
11-08841 12-08104 11-08834 11-08838

 

 

         
11 September 2013: CH-47F Chinook helicopter 11-08834 flies over Delaware enroute to the Port of Baltimore.

             11 September 2013: CH-47F Chinook helicopter 11-08834 flies over Delaware enroute to the Port of Baltimore. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
11 September 2013: Sortie 1 arrives at the Port of Baltimore. Two Chinook helicopters are already on the ground (11-08841 and 12-08104) with 11-08834 making it's approach while the crew of 11-08838 follows in trail.

             11 September 2013: Sortie 1 arrives at the Port of Baltimore. Two Chinook helicopters are already on the ground (11-08841 and 12-08104) with 11-08834 making it's approach while the crew of 11-08838 follows in trail. Note the two hundred foot high light poles all around the landing zone. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
   Click-N-Go Here to view a High Definition Video of four CH-47F Chinook helicopters arriving at the Port of Baltimore on 11 September 2013. Due to the large file size you may wish to "Right Click" and select "Save As" to download the file your computer for viewing at a later time. [2:17, 198 Mb, audio included]

 

 

          Sortie 2

 

 

             On 12 September a check of the weather revealed visual flight conditions (VFR) for the morning flight period. Not great, but good enough. However, as the day progressed, low clouds and poor visibility would probably inhibit afternoon flying. An early morning flight of four was accomplished.

 

 

             The following four CH-47F Chinook helicopters were ferried, in chalk order, from Millville Airport to the docks at the Port of Baltimore on 12 September 2013:

 

 

         
11-08835 11-08839 12-08103 11-08837

 

 

             In the afternoon of 12 September, an attempt was made to ferry the remaining four aircraft to the docks. The flight progressed to the halfway point - just about abeam Summit Airport (KEVY) - when visibility was reduced to less than a mile and the decision was made to return to Millville Municipal Airport. During the late afternoon/early evening the front rolled through the area and clear skies returned giving way for good flight conditions the next day - Friday, the 13th of September.

 

 

          Sortie 3

 

 

             The following four CH-47F Chinook helicopters were ferried, in chalk order, from Millville Airport to the docks at the Port of Baltimore on 13 September 2013:

 

 

         
11-08833 12-08105 12-08106 11-08836

 

 

          Return Passage to Millville

 

 

         
11 September 2013: CH-47F Chinook helicopter 12-08111 arrives at the Port of Baltimore to pick up the aircrews for the return flight to Millville Airport.

             11 September 2013: CH-47F Chinook helicopter 12-08111 arrives at the Port of Baltimore to pick up the aircrews for the return flight to Millville Airport. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

             After each flight of four CH-47F Chinook helicopters completed their missions to the port, the aircrews were returned to Millville Airport as passengers aboard 12-08111. 12-08111 was piloted by Bill Graham and Ken Lynch. The Flight Engineers were Wade Cothron and Mario Sarria.

 

 

         
11 September 2013: The crew of CH-47F Chinook helicopter 12-08111 returns the ferry flight aircrews to Millville.

             11 September 2013: The crew of CH-47F Chinook helicopter 12-08111 returns the ferry flight aircrews to Millville. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

          Arrival in the Republic of Korea

 

 

         
3 November 2013: Having arrived by ship only a few days earlier, maintenance personnel from Boeing assemble the airframes while flight crews inspect them for airworthiness on the dock at Pier 8, Buson, Republic of Korea (ROK). The photograph was taken from the first CH-47F Chinook helicopter to fly in the ROK, tail number 12-08103.

             3 November 2013: Having arrived by ship only a few days earlier, maintenance personnel from Boeing assemble the airframes while flight crews inspect them for airworthiness on the dock at Pier 8, Buson, Republic of Korea (ROK). The photograph was taken from the first CH-47F Chinook helicopter to fly in the ROK, tail number 12-08103. The ship that bought the aircraft and flight simulators to Korea is shown on the left - the "Lightning" - a roll on, roll off (RORO) vessel. The entire bow raises up into the air allowing access and cargo loading. It is moved on the ocean by a tug that couples to the rear of the ship. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

          Movement to Camp Humphreys

 

 

         
7 November 2013: A UH-60 "Blackhawk" helicopter provided taxi service for the CH-47F New Equipment Training Team aircrews from Camp Humphreys to the dock at Pier 8, Busan, Republic of Korea.

             7 November 2013: A UH-60 "Blackhawk" helicopter provided taxi service for the CH-47F New Equipment Training Team aircrews from Camp Humphreys to the dock at Pier 8, Busan, Republic of Korea. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

             Aircraft movement from Pier 8, Busan (a.k.a. Pusan) was a fairly painless process. Aircrews were shuttled to the port from Camp Humphreys via UH-60 "Blackhawk" helicopter for each sortie of CH-47F helicopter flight. The Pier itself was quite small and allowed for build up and flyaway of only two CH-47 aircraft at a time. National Testing Day for students at schools in the Republic of Korea meant no aircraft could fly on Wednesday, 6 November. Weather cooperated for the most part except for the morning period on 3 November when it was raining and drizzly for most of the day. Enroute weather did dictate some flights travelled to Camp Humphreys on IFR flight plans. The aircraft on IFR flight plans were sent to generally 10,000 feet, with one aircraft placed at 12,000 for a portion of the flight. Total flight time from Busan to Camp Humphreys was approximately 1.5 hours.

 

 

          Sortie 1

 

 

             The following two * CH-47F Chinook helicopters were ferried, in chalk order, from Pier 8 to Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea on Sunday, 3 November 2013:

 

 

         
12-08103 11-08834

 

             * 12-08104 was scheduled to depart on the first sortie from Pier 8. However, due to a persistent number one engine fire light, it was replaced with 11-08834.

 

 

          Sortie 2

 

 

             The following two CH-47F Chinook helicopters were ferried, in chalk order, from Pier 8 to Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea during the morning period on Monday, 4 November 2013:

 

 

         
12-08104 11-08835

 

 

          Sortie 3

 

 

             The following two CH-47F Chinook helicopters were ferried, in chalk order, from Pier 8 to Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea during the afternoon period on Monday, 4 November 2013:

 

 

         
12-08106 11-08833

 

 

          Sortie 4

 

 

             The following two CH-47F Chinook helicopters were ferried, in chalk order, from Pier 8 to Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea during the morning period on Tuesday, 5 November 2013:

 

 

         
11-08836 11-08839

 

 

          Sortie 5

 

 

             The following two CH-47F Chinook helicopters were ferried, in chalk order, from Pier 8 to Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea during the afternoon period on Tuesday, 5 November 2013:

 

 

         
11-08837 12-08105

 

 

          Sortie 6

 

 

             The following two CH-47F Chinook helicopters were ferried, in chalk order, from Pier 8 to Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea during the morning period on Thursday, 7 November 2013:

 

 

         
11-08838 11-08841

 

 

         
   Click-N-Go Here to view a High Definition Video of two CH-47F Chinook helicopters departing Pier 8 in Busan, Republic of Korea, on their way to Camp Humphreys. Due to the large file size you may wish to "Right Click" and select "Save As" to download the file your computer for viewing at a later time. [6:08, 544 Mb, audio included]

 

 

          Related Information

 

          View Additional Photographs

          D Models to be sold to the ROK

 

 

          The CH-47 - 40 years old and still circling the world.

         

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