Years In Service: 1962-Present
Initial Flight: September 21, 1961
The CH-47D Chinook is a tandem rotor twin-engine heavy-lift helicopter produced for the United States Army to provide artillery positioning, troop insertion, and battlefield resupply. Designed in the early 1960s, the Chinook is one of the very few aircrafts still produced to this day with the CH-47F incorporating an updated computerized LCD instrument panel.
Aircraft Specifications
Height: 18′ 9″ Wingspan: 60′ Length: 51′ Crew: 3 Armament: Two M240 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) or Miniguns on side pintle mounts One 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) or Minigun on rear cargo ramp Horsepower: 5,000 hp Payload: 36 members, 19,500 lb. load, Sling-load Capacity: 26,000 lb. center hook No. of Engines: 2 Cruise speed: 184 mph Ceiling: 8,448 ft.