/CH/MH-47G "SuperChinook": America's Survival Really Does Depend on It
Now that the Air-Mech-Strike Study Group owns a CH-47---the last surviving prototype HC-1B aka YCH-47A, restoring "The Ghost Ship" as we call it--has given us some hands-on time to experience its size, physical appearance and functionality of this legendary aircraft type which Frank Piasecki created in the 1950s. See our Ghost Ship fly in the video below!
1959
2007 & Beyond
This has generated the following observations and recommendations from simple-to-complex.
NEW! Video clips:
HOW THE CHINOOK FLIES:
THE MIGHTY CHINOOK IN ACTION:
More Good News: USAF selects HH-47 Chinook to be its next CSAR chopper
Notice HH-47 is GRAY to better blend into sky than the stupid Army dark green Chinooks. HH-47 can air-mech M113 Mini-Gavin to rescue pilots with armored mobility, firepower then drive him back to pick-up into the Chinook! This is similar to how LTC Iceal Hambleton of "BAT-21" fame was rescued: by a M113 Gavin during the Vietnam war.
WAHOO!
Officials select developer for combat search and rescue replacement vehicle
11/9/2006 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne announced the selection of Boeing Helicopter of Ridley Park, Pa., to provide the new combat search and rescue replacement vehicle, known as CSAR-X.
The Nov. 9 announcement comes at the end of a fair and open competition, and thorough evaluation of multiple proposals allowing the Air Force to fulfill its number two acquisition priority.
"The Air Force is the only service with forces dedicated to the critical mission of combat search and rescue," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "We take that mission seriously, and this new CSAR platform will greatly benefit all service members who perform vital work deep in hostile, uncertain or enemy territory."
The CSAR-X is a medium-lift helicopter that will replace the Air Force's fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which are quickly approaching their useful service life limit.
The primary mission of the CSAR-X will be to recover downed aircrew members and isolated troops in a combat environment. Rescue forces also may conduct missions such as non-conventional assisted recovery, non-combatant evacuation, civil search and rescue, international aid distribution, emergency medical evacuation, disaster/humanitarian relief, and combat forces insertion/extraction.
"The increased capabilities that CSAR-X will provide our joint force commanders and future civil disaster needs is tremendous," said General Moseley. "From Operations in Iraq, to Afghanistan, to civil support during Hurricane Katrina, Air Force rescue forces do amazing things to ensure that others may live."
The CSAR-X will be designed to deploy quickly and to operate out of austere locations worldwide. Additionally, the combat search and rescue mission requires the helicopter to operate in the day or night during adverse weather conditions and in a variety of spectrums of warfare to include nuclear, biological and chemical environments. On-board defensive capabilities with armor will permit the CSAR-X to operate and survive in a higher threat environment than current systems.
The CSAR-X program office plans to procure 141 of the new helicopters with associated training and logistics support. The Air Force plans to achieve Initial Operational Capability with its first ten new CSAR aircraft by the end of 2012.
HH-47 CSAR-X (Combat Search and Rescue) Helicopter Overview
Boeing has proposed the advanced HH-47 CSAR-X tandem rotor aircraft as its entry in the U.S. Air Force combat search and rescue aircraft program. Built on a new airframe, the Boeing HH-47 CSAR-X rescue aircraft is equipped with advanced countermeasures and survivability enhancements similar to those utilized in U.S. Army Special Operations MH-47G rotorcraft, known as the Special Operations Chinook, which is currently in production.
HH-47 Capabilities
An affordable, low-risk, highly capable platform with a proven operational and logistics track record; compliant with key performance parameters and incorporates the advanced functionality to perform demanding CSAR missions Multi-mission capable platform with significant combat experience, at high altitudes, in austere environments and with limited visibility
The Air Force CSAR version will be a new build aircraft that meets all Block 0 requirements and will require minimal upgrades to meet Block 10 requirements Key features include a net-ready pit, forward-looking infrared radar, terrain-following-terrain avoidance radar, and in-flig |