I recently watched T.V. where the presenter was in a Chinook. enemy fire from the ground was being fired at the Chinook, and one round went through the cockpit, and hit the pilot in the head. He managed to get the Helo back to base, and he made a full recovery.
Upon examination, the Chinook took several rounds.
The burning question is this. I learned that this particular Chinook has taken part in every operation form the Falklands to presently Helmund( Not certain if it was there). The question is, I think well before this aircraft is scrapped, we should know A) if and when it is to be scrapped, and 2) is there anyway we can keep it, as I feel the old girl be put out to pasture and looked after, as she has saved so many lives, I for one feel she is part of our National Heritage.
Lets have your thoughts on this.
Lincoln .7
🙂
By: Die_Noctuque - 10th February 2011 at 09:46
Sorry, I do not agree. I see that you are a volunteer at the Newalk air museum, and very commendable too.
What if all the aircraft in your museum had crashed and been totalled prior to being put in your museum, by an enemy.or fire or something else?.
Would I be correct in saying there would be no use for you at the museum?.It’s not as if they do not have enough, they have some still in mothballs or so I am led to beleive.So I am sure she would not be missed.
Lincoln .7
Speechless!! 😮
Maybe it would pay to have a read of this link, admittedly from a couple of years ago now, but indicative of the current state according to those who are/have been serving – but one of several which nothing more than a quick google search will find relating to the desperate shortage of helicopters (Chinook in particular) in theatre..
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/CUT-SHUT/article-1174145-detail/article.html
Maybe it’ll make you think a little longer?
By: Rocketeer - 10th February 2011 at 09:39
Lovely pix TonyT…does predate me…I will try and look out some phots
By: pagen01 - 10th February 2011 at 09:24
I think a reality check is needed here, the UK helicopter force is severly stretched at the moment, more than many might believe.
I work on a station where ‘special’ people are based and regularly conduct very important helo excercises, more often than not the uniquely capable Chinooks that are booked for a certain role are cancelled as there just isn’t any available what with their vital overseas deployments and UK training.
Military aircraft are brought to be used, in this case for valuable troop or equipment lifting and movement aswel as saving lives, anyone of which is more important than the aircraft itself.
No military aircraft should be retired to a museum while still needed, let alone one as vitally important as the Chinook.
It is a far greater testament of its design to me that it continues to serve our country, and serve well, it has a great chance of surviving until its retirement and it is great that it has already been earmarked for preservation within the RAFM – let it notch up the honours in its own sweet time.:)
By: TonyT - 10th February 2011 at 00:50
I so hope she is preserved! She has 4 x DFCs to her credit. She was the first MLU Mk2 and spent many years at Boscombe Down….oddly enough, she was the first Chinook I flew in (as a Mk1 just before she became a Mk2) and I have about 150 hours in her. We used her for all sorts of trials from ship, to snow & icing to landing on a lake! A great old lady who looks after her own. This forum does not have many helicopter fans, but the chinook is more than a helicopter…she’s a Most Special helicopter!
__________________
Tony Dyer
Probably predate you by a considerable margin, was on the Chinook from the second one, having moved from the Wessex/ Puma OCU. Knew Dick Langworthy from standards when he used to visit the OCU and did a trip out to Denmark with him in a Puma, also knew him on Chinooks.
Probably have flown in her too, but never took much notice of which was which, used to do a lot of airtest in them.
These ring some bells????
By: Creaking Door - 10th February 2011 at 00:22
Unfortunately we are desperately short of heavylift helicopters.
We may only have to wait until the UK pulls-out of Afghanistan…..and the next defence review! :rolleyes:
Don’t forget many of the Sea King HC4 still serving are Falklands veterans too.
By: VX927 - 9th February 2011 at 23:41
Now having said that, it depends on how many Chinooks the RAF has….
Unfortunately we are desperately short of heavylift helicopters.
A bit of thread cheep, but I dont understand why we dont just go out and buy a shed load of Hip’s from one of our Eastern European friends… It would be a cheep solution and help fill a large gap.
Back to chinooks….!
By: J Boyle - 9th February 2011 at 23:10
Lincoln 7 has a point about saving something while you still can.
Possibly the most photographed helicopter in the world, the USN SH-3D Sea King “66” (BuNo 152711), was the primary recovery helicopter for five of the moon landings, including Apollo 11.
It was lost later in its career on a normal ASW mission.
A priceless artifact lost.
Now having said that, it depends on how many Chinooks the RAF has…if they have plenty (and I certainly don’t know whether they do) retiring it sooner than later might be wise.
By: VX927 - 9th February 2011 at 21:54
I.M.H.O I think she should be retired NOW
Let soldiers suffer on the ground so she can retire to a museum?… What a waste that would be.
It would be like not letting your star player play football any more in case they got injured. I like your passion, but I cant agree with your logic.
By: JT442 - 9th February 2011 at 21:44
museums get out of use airframes. FACT. BN is still in uniform. I’d say the fact that she is still in theatre saving lives is more important than her being in a museum. Provided she survives, she’ll be preserved. Have patience.
By: TwinOtter23 - 9th February 2011 at 20:36
We’ll have to agree to differ then!!
By: Lincoln 7 - 9th February 2011 at 20:19
WADR I believe the need for serviceable helicopters ‘in theatre’ outweighs any preservation requirements!
Sorry, I do not agree. I see that you are a volunteer at the Newalk air museum, and very commendable too.
What if all the aircraft in your museum had crashed and been totalled prior to being put in your museum, by an enemy.or fire or something else?.
Would I be correct in saying there would be no use for you at the museum?.
It’s not as if they do not have enough, they have some still in mothballs or so I am led to beleive.So I am sure she would not be missed.
Lincoln .7
By: Lincoln 7 - 9th February 2011 at 20:06
I so hope she is preserved! She has 4 x DFCs to her credit. She was the first MLU Mk2 and spent many years at Boscombe Down….oddly enough, she was the first Chinook I flew in (as a Mk1 just before she became a Mk2) and I have about 150 hours in her. We used her for all sorts of trials from ship, to snow & icing to landing on a lake! A great old lady who looks after her own. This forum does not have many helicopter fans, but the chinook is more than a helicopter…she’s a Most Special helicopter!
Heck, Your one lucky fella, 150 hrs in her, I would give anything to be able to say “I have flown in her for an hour”, what a story to be able to tell your Grandchildren!!
Lincoln .7
😉
By: TwinOtter23 - 9th February 2011 at 20:02
BN, Yes, thats the one, what a fantastic aircraft she is, I am pleased that some thought has been given for her to perhaps she ends her days at Hendon.
I.M.H.O I think she should be retired NOW, it would be just her luck to be shot down and totalled when just a few days away from retirement.
I don’t suppose the M..O.D would even consider that though, or would they, could they ?. It would be interesting to know. I think all M.P.s should be given the other half of a brain cell to keep the half they have,company:D they may have the common sense to save her now if approached.
Lincoln . 7
WADR I believe the need for serviceable helicopters ‘in theatre’ outweighs any preservation requirements!
By: Lincoln 7 - 9th February 2011 at 19:59
‘Bravo November’. I’m confident that she will be earmarked for preservation if she survives intact into retirement. In the meantime, a plastic ‘BN’ fuselage representation sits in the Helicopter section (along with a EH101 Heliliner?:confused:) at RAFM Hendon.
Hi Seafuryfan. Many thanks for the intell. I hope the real deal actualy lands there at Hendon.
Lincoln. 7
By: DaveF68 - 9th February 2011 at 19:54
‘Bravo November’. I’m confident that she will be earmarked for preservation if she survives intact into retirement. In the meantime, a plastic ‘BN’ fuselage representation sits in the Helicopter section (along with a EH101 Heliliner?:confused:) at RAFM Hendon.
The Hendon CHinook is NOT a plastic mock up – it’s based on the forward fuselage of an ex-US Army Chinook (83-24104 )that was donated after the original was replaced in the CH-47F program
In it’s previous incarnation as a CH-47A it is a war veteran in it’s own right.
By: Lincoln 7 - 9th February 2011 at 19:53
Is this the one? http://www.key.aero/view_feature.asp?ID=70&thisSection=military
The second to last paragraph might set your mind at rest … “The RAF is the largest operator of Boeing-built Chinooks outside the United States and currently operates a fleet of 47 HC2 Chinooks. ZA718 will continue to serve until retirement in around 20 years’ time, hopefully to a permanent position within the walls of Hendon.”
BN, Yes, thats the one, what a fantastic aircraft she is, I am pleased that some thought has been given for her to perhaps she ends her days at Hendon.
I.M.H.O I think she should be retired NOW, it would be just her luck to be shot down and totalled when just a few days away from retirement.
I don’t suppose the M..O.D would even consider that though, or would they, could they ?. It would be interesting to know. I think all M.P.s should be given the other half of a brain cell to keep the half they have,company:D they may have the common sense to save her now if approached.
Lincoln . 7
By: AN2grahame - 9th February 2011 at 19:51
I recall the captain that was hit being interviewed after receiving his award,when asked “when you were hit what went through your mind?”he quipped “a bullet”
By: Rocketeer - 9th February 2011 at 19:40
I so hope she is preserved! She has 4 x DFCs to her credit. She was the first MLU Mk2 and spent many years at Boscombe Down….oddly enough, she was the first Chinook I flew in (as a Mk1 just before she became a Mk2) and I have about 150 hours in her. We used her for all sorts of trials from ship, to snow & icing to landing on a lake! A great old lady who looks after her own. This forum does not have many helicopter fans, but the chinook is more than a helicopter…she’s a Most Special helicopter!
By: Seafuryfan - 9th February 2011 at 19:34
‘Bravo November’. I’m confident that she will be earmarked for preservation if she survives intact into retirement. In the meantime, a plastic ‘BN’ fuselage representation sits in the Helicopter section (along with a EH101 Heliliner?:confused:) at RAFM Hendon.
By: TwinOtter23 - 9th February 2011 at 18:28
Is this the one? http://www.key.aero/view_feature.asp?ID=70&thisSection=military
The second to last paragraph might set your mind at rest … “The RAF is the largest operator of Boeing-built Chinooks outside the United States and currently operates a fleet of 47 HC2 Chinooks. ZA718 will continue to serve until retirement in around 20 years’ time, hopefully to a permanent position within the walls of Hendon.”
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February 9, 2011 at 6:25 pm