The primary remanufactured CH-47 Chinook helicopter was delivered to the Spanish Military at a ceremony held on the headquarters of the Spanish Military Airmobile Forces in Colmenar Viejo, Madrid. The plane is the primary of 17 that may modernize the Spanish Chinook fleet, upgrading their present CH-47D-model plane to the newer CH-47F mannequin.The Spanish modernization effort coincides with its European counterparts throughout the area. The Netherlands just lately retired its final CH-47D Chinook in favor of the F-model configuration, whereas the UK bought further plane to improve its fleet.
In 2001, the primary CH-47F, an upgraded CH-47D, made its maiden flight; the primary manufacturing mannequin rolled out on 15 June 2006 at Boeing’s facility in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, and first flew on 23 October 2006. The CH-47F includes a digital automated flight management system, frequent avionics structure system and superior cargo dealing with to fulfill the Spanish Military’s modernization wants for elevated operational capability, whereas making certain interoperability with allied nations. The CH-47F can fly at speeds of over 175 mph (282 km/h) with a payload of greater than 21,000 lb (9,500 kg).
Commercial
“We’re happy to have a good time this main milestone with the Spanish Military,” stated Heather McBryan, director of Enterprise Improvement for Boeing Cargo Helicopters and Future Vertical Elevate packages. “The Chinook continues to exceed our prospects’ expectations and the F-model will present Spain with a sophisticated and dependable plane from supply by way of sustainment.”
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor helicopter developed by American rotorcraft firm Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol. The Chinook is a heavy-lift helicopter that’s among the many heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its identify, Chinook, is from the Native American Chinook folks of Washington state.With greater than 950 plane in service with 20 worldwide operators, together with eight NATO nations, the Chinook brings the right combination of present and future capabilities to fulfill prospects’ wants, together with a world provide base for around-the-clock half availability, fast worldwide interoperability and streamlined upkeep procedures. Chinook stays one of many few plane to be developed in the course of the early Nineteen Sixties – together with the fixed-wing Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo plane – that has remained in each manufacturing and frontline service for over 50 years.