I bet they never thought the Chinook would last this long!
Why? Look at the number of aircraft types that have enjoyed several decades of service.
The planned out service date for the early variant Chinook in RAF service is scheduled for 2015. The Mk2 is down for 2025. Both of these have the capacity to be extended up to 2040. What is your problem with extending the life or upgrading perfectly acceptable airframes able to provide useful service? The U.S. is still operating Vietnam era variant Chinooks that went through an upgrade and rebuild. The U.S. will operate those airframes for decades to come.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-01-15b.245850.h
As already pointed out the use of this Argentine Chinook was a perfectly good use of the type. This Argentine Army CH-47C, serial AE-520, was captured close to the Governor’s residence in Stanley on 14 June 82 and returned to the UK on the 19th August 82. It was assigned a UK serial ZH257 and over the years has been in storage or in use as a ground instructional airframe. It was assigned the maintenance serial 9217M. Another excellent use of captured Argentine helos was the following.
Argentine Coast Guard SA.330L, serial PA-12, was abandoned near to Stanley. This airframe was rebuilt to HC.1 standard and entered service with the RAF during 2001, as Puma HC.1, serial ZE449.
The Chinook story is a complete non-story. Media hype. Desperate to milk certain journalists are now trying to imply that Chinook Bravo November is unfit for purpose and should be in a museum.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1200666/MAIL-COMMENT-The-museum-piece-RAF-helicopter-shame-ministers.html
TJ
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