aviation - the past, present and future of flight

by QinetiQ at Boscombe Down, involves

installing a Digital Automatic Flight Control

System (DAFCS), this is also on the HC5

and HC6. It replaces the older analogue

system, which according to the crews,

gives much better stability and eases pilot

workload considerably. Externally there is

no appreciable difference between the HC4

and HC6A.

Twenty-four new HC6 variants, (based on

the US Army CH-47F), were ordered from

Boeing in 2009 but this was subsequently

reduced to 14. These were built with a more

rigid fuselage construction. Externally the

HC6 has three pitot tubes (as does the HC5

and HC6A) mounted on the nose, whereas

the HC4 has two, otherwise they are much

the same in appearance. The first example

(ZK550) was delivered to RAF Odiham

during December 2013 and the last one

(ZK563) was handed over to the RAF on

December 16, 2015.

Twelve Chinooks have been lost in

accidents over the years and a further three

are in use as ground instructional airframes,

leaving the force with 57 operational

examples. All of the original HC1/2/2A

variants have been modified to HC4 status

whilst there are eight HC5s (modified from

HC3s).

VERSATILITY

The Boeing Chinook is a capable and

versatile support helicopter that can be at

home in many diverse environments, from

the Arctic to the tropics. They can be armed

with crew weapons, two General Electric

M134 (7.62mm) six-barrelled rotary mini-

guns mounted in the doorways, and a US

Ordnance M60D (7.62mm) general-purpose

machine gun, pintle-mounted on the rear

ramp.

With its UV and Doppler Missile

Advanced Warning System (MAWS),

defensive aids such as infra-red jammers,

radar warning receivers and chaff/flare

dispensers, the Chinook is well equipped

to look after itself. The large cabin can

accommodate 55 troops, although 30 fully

armed and kitted troops would be normal for

battlefield insertion.

A total of 10 tonnes of freight can be

carried internally or externally as an under-

slung load. Operationally there are two

pilots plus one or two crewmen dependent

upon role requirement.

The helicopter has a maximum speed

of 183mph (295km/h) and a service ceiling

of 18,500ft, although crews do not routinely

equip the oxygen needed to fly above

10,000ft.

To maintain currency on the type, the

Chinook crews undergo continuous training

covering general handling, under-slung load

lifting, landing in confined areas, precise

spot landings, troop insertion and extraction

as fast as possible, low-level flying and

landing on sloping terrain with only the

rear wheels on the ground. Night flying is

also high on the agenda where night-vision

50 Aviation News incorporating Jets January 2018

Above left: Multi-functional displays in the

instrument panel of a Chinook HC4 upgraded

from an HC2.

Left: The cabin of a Chinook HC4 showing the

webbing seats and strengthened cargo floor.

48-51_raf_chinooksDC.mfDC.mfDC.mf.indd 50 04/12/2017 14:34