Chinook Helicopter

The Chinook is a versatile twin rotor helicopter that can be operated in many diverse environments ranging from cold weather ‘arctic’ conditions to desert warfare operations. 

It has been used by Airborne Forces on numerous operations over the last 30 years including the Falklands Conflict, Northern Ireland, the Gulf War, peace keeping in Bosnia, Kosovo operations, Sierra Leone, operations in Iraq and more recently, in Afghanistan.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is currently the largest operator of Chinook Helicopters outside of the United States with some 40 aircraft. 

The HC2 and HC2A versions of the Chinook are are used primarily for trooping and for carrying internal and/or underslung loads and can carry up to 55 troops or 10 tonnes of freight. The cabin is large enough to accommodate two WMIK Land Rovers, while the three underslung load hooks allow a huge flexibility in the type and number of loads that can be carried externally, including the Pinzgauer Truck.

The Chinook is well equipped for defence and has a Radar Warning Receiver, an Ultraviolet and Doppler Missile Approach Warning System, infrared jammers and chaff and flare dispensers, which can be manually or automatically fired. The aircraft can be armed with two M134 six-barrelled Miniguns, one in each front side window, and an M60D machine gun on the ramp.

Engines:Two Textron Lycoming T55-L712F turboshafts

Max speed:160kts

Length:30.18m

Max altitude:

15,000ft

Span: 18.29m

Aircrew:

4

Information courtesy of the RAF.