Boeing's CH-47F model Chinook under production.

Boeing CH-47F Model Chinook

The Next Generation of the Heavy-Lift Helicopter.

98-00011

January 19, 2005: The new CH-47F features a modern "glass cockpit" in which computer displays replace traditional "steam gauges" and provide a color map of the helicopter's course. By 2018, all of the Army's Chinooks will use this hardware. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger version of this image.

63-07922, Boeing build number B-076, was a CH-47A helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 23 February 1965. 63-07922 accumulated 4,093.2 aircraft hours. On 11 April 1983, 63-07922 was inducted into the D model program and converted to 83-24107. The last known location of 63-07922 was at Boeing during the conversion. Aircraft status: Converted to D model.

83-24107, Boeing D model kit number M3037, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 15 May 1984. As of 22 June 1998, 83-24107 had accumulated 1,756.7 D model hours and 5,849.9 total aircraft hours. 83-24107 was a conversion from the original A model Chinook 63-07922. On 11 May 1983, 83-24107 was inducted into the D model program, converted, and initially assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. As of 25 June 2001, the last known location of 83-24107 was at the Boeing facilities in Pennsylvania undergoing conversion to F model 98-00011. Aircraft status: Converted to F model.

98-00011, Boeing F model kit number unknown, was a CH-47F helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was unknown. As of 22 June 1998, 98-00011 had accumulated an unknown number of F model hours and 5,849.9 total aircraft hours. 98-00011 was a conversion from D model Chinook 83-24107, which was originally A model Chinook 63-07922. In October 1999, 98-00011 was inducted into the F model program, converted, and initially assigned to Fort Rucker, Alabama, for operational data collection. As of 1 January 2002, 98-00011 was 36.9 years old. As of May 2002, the last known location of 98-00011 was at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Aircraft status: Flyable.

Boeing CH-47F Chinook first flight of 98-00011.

The first flight of a CH-47 F Model.

On 25 June 2001, the first flight of the next generation of Chinook helicopters took place at Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Tail number 98-00011 is the first of many conversions from the D model helicopter introduced in 1982 to the more advanced F model helicopter. The F model program will extend the life of the Chinook fleet an additional 30 years.

The Boeing Philadelphia flight crew consisted of Erik Kocher, Chinook program chief test pilot; Randy Wells, test pilot; Joe Schluck, flight test engineer; and John Rose, crew chief. The helicopter lifted off shortly before 7 p.m., EDT, and remained airborne for about five minutes to validate aircraft handling qualities.

98-00012

67-18456, Boeing build number B-426, was a CH-47B helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 6 November 1967. 67-18456 accumulated 3,444.1 aircraft hours. On 7 June 1983, 67-18456 was inducted into the D model program and converted to 83-24115. The last known location of 67-18456 was at Boeing during the conversion. Aircraft status: Converted to D model.

83-24115, Boeing D model kit number M3045, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 29 September 1984. As of 22 June 1998, 83-24115 had accumulated 1,455.6 D model hours and 4,899.7 total aircraft hours. 83-24115 was a conversion from the original B model Chinook 67-18456. On 8 March 1985, 83-24115 was inducted into the D model program, converted, and initially assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. As of 1 January 2002, the last known location of 83-24115 was at the Boeing facilities in Pennsylvania. Aircraft status: Undergoing conversion to F model, tail number 98-00012.

98-00012, Boeing F model kit number unknown, was a CH-47F helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was unknown. As of 22 June 1998, 98-00012 had accumulated an unknown number of F model hours and 4,899.7 total aircraft hours. 98-00012 was a conversion from D model Chinook 83-24115, which was originally B model Chinook 67-18456. In October 1999, 98-00012 was inducted into the F model program, converted, and initially assigned to an unknown location. As of 1 January 2002, this aircraft was 34.2 years old. As of 1 January 2002, the last known location of 83-24115 was at the Boeing facilities in Pennsylvania. Aircraft status: Undergoing conversion to F model.

The photographs below, of soon to become 98-00012, give a brief glimpse of the extent and amount of work that goes into the airframe during the conversion process.