Boeing has completed the 100th CH-47F ‘Foxtrot’ variant of the venerable Chinook helicopter at its Ridley Township facility near Philadelphia.
The CH-47F is an improvement over the CH-47D, featuring a lower part count in a redesigned forward fuselage, more powerful engines, a Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS), and the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit.
“The CH-47F is proving its exceptional capabilities every day in combat operations,” said Col Bob Marion, the US Army’s Project Manager for Cargo Helicopters. “The technological advantages and improvements in the CH-47F are powerful combat multipliers that save soldiers’ lives and support overall contingency operations in theatre.”
CH-47Fs built to date have equipped six US Army units, four of which have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, and have flown more than 50,000 flight hours with an availability of over 80 per cent. The 100th aircraft is due to be delivered sometime in August.
Australia has ordered seven CH-47Fs for delivery from 2013 to replace its six CH-47Ds.
