Posted on 01/14/2008 3:41:33 PM PST by SandRat
AL TAQADDUM — Though they are a flock of merely eight, the Army’s CH-47 Chinooks move thousands of pounds of gear and scores of personnel daily. Despite their small number of aircraft, the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment has handled a large workload since beginning operations in August. With greater capacity, the Army’s Chinooks have spared the Marine Corps’ aircraft approximately 28,000 passengers and almost 2 million pounds of cargo.
“They just needed something to fill the gaps until they could get another stateside unit into the rotation,” said Capt. Nelson Gray, a Milan, Ohio native.
Gray said the battalion’s Chinooks have already flown more than 300 missions. The overachieving aircraft can already carry 2,000 lbs. more than the Marine Corps’ Sea Knight, but that’s not all.
The Chinooks can also lift an external payload of nearly 13,000 lbs. by hooking the gear up to a sling under the belly of the aircraft. That’s more than twice the Sea Knight’s maximum lifting capability.
“It’s the best aircraft in any military inventory that I’ve seen yet,” said Capt. Zachariah Morford, a commanding officer for one of the battalion’s companies. “Our aircraft flies faster, higher, farther than anything in the Army inventory and now that we’re stacking up against Marine aircraft, we’re more than holding our own.”
The Soldiers are on a constant flight rotation, taking to the skies both day and night for the entirety of their deployment. A lot of maintenance comes with that kind of tempo, especially if the battalion plans to sustain it for the remainder of their 15-month deployment.
“Without us, we couldn’t move troops or supplies so it’s satisfying to see these things take off and go,” said Staff Sgt. Samuel Ayres, a Chinook mechanic with the battalion.
Morford said he especially enjoys working in a Marine environment as many of the few and the proud are unfamiliar with the Chinook’s capabilities.
“People wear a couple different uniforms, but all haircuts look the same and the food tastes the same,” said the Gainesville, Fla., native. “There are fewer differences than I would’ve at first imagined. They have a very mission focused perspective and we’ve been able to fit right into that.”
“Everything Else is just a Sling Load”
“Chinook: The only aircraft in the Army inventory that can have a mid-air collision with itself.”
(That’s what us UH-60 guys would say to the Chinook guys. Of course they called our bird a “lawn dart” due to some early development problems).
If you’ve ever seen that in-flight rotor collision, it’s a sight you’ll never forget.
Worked on the 60 sims at Rucker,,One of my friends was a crew chief yrs. ago on Chinooks,,they have a following..
Saw two Slicks make blade contact once,imagine that was similar to the
Chinooks mishap. No one was hurt but scary for everyone.
Those blade pieces that showered us suprised me,like a honeycomb.Weigh
nothing at all
Chinooks were unreal loud to ride in back in Nam,but indespensable for packin a 105 out to a FB
Those were the good old days...I miss them—kinda
Apples and oranges comparison since the Chinook is considered a heavy lift platform and the Sea Knight is a medium lift platform. Let Gray match his aircraft against the Super Stallion and see who ends up with the short end of the stick.
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