Boeing Chinook HC.5

Affectionately known as the ‘Wokka’ thanks to its distinctive sound, the CH-47 Chinook is a well-known tandem-rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Originally entering service with the US Army 61 years ago, as the HC-1B – a larger and heavier development of the HC-1A which became known as the CH-46 Sea Knight. Equipped with a large central cargo hold accessed via a rear ramp, the Chinook was capable of carrying vehicles, boats, or significant numbers of troops. Not only did the type possess an excellent cargo hold but it could also carry heavy loads externally slung under the fuselage on three cargo hooks. During the Falklands War, a single RAF Chinook known as Bravo November was able to achieve the airlift of 81 troops at once – this Chinook is now on display in the RAF Museum Midlands at RAF Cosford. The most recent versions developed are the CH-47F and the MH-47G, the latter is configured for special operations for the US Army.

The RAF has operated the Chinook since 1980 and acquired the helicopter to replace the Bristol Belvedere and consisted of a mix of CH-47C and modified CH-47C models with more powerful engines. These were all updated to CH-47D standard (known as HC2) during the early 1980s. The current RAF fleet consists of a mix of MH-47E (HC5), CH-47F (HC6) and heavily updated HC2s, now designated as the HC6A. During early 2024 the MoD confirmed that an order had been placed for a further 14 CH-47-ER models. Whilst the RAF owns and operates the entire UK Chinook fleet, they are all under the command of the Joint Aviation Command (JAC). The JAC combines all the battlefield helicopters of the Army Air Corps, Royal Navy and RAF under a single military command structure centralised around the Army.

The JAC will be sending the RAF Chinook display team from 7 squadron to perform at this year’s Air Tattoo.

Photo Credit: Michael Hind