My dad was the chief test pilot at Vertol during the development of the CH47, sadly he died prematurely from a WWII war injury, not to see how successful the CH47 has become
Awesome aircraft, had the privilege of flying the A model my second tour in Vietnam. We were the last A model unit in Vietnam. Originally A Company 228th CSHB 1st Cav, later redesignated 203rd ASHC 1st Aviation Brigade.
As a British army veteran we used these work horses in many operations. As an infantry man I remember being dropped off in hot LZ’s and lifted out day or night.
One of the main reasons why the Chinook is so popular is its unexcelled stability and control thanks to its tandem rotor design. It can remain rock-steady in a hover while passengers disembark and cargo is unloaded.
"Guns-a-Go-Go" In the Ia Drang in 1966: Two large, specially outfitted, twin-rotor CH-47 Chinooks, rigged as gunships, came flying in from behind past us, sending a hail of glowing red 20mm tracers speeding ahead of us into the LZ, along with 40mm M-79 rounds and 2.75-inch rockets. Each CH-47 Go-Go had an automatic M-79 in front and two Browning 20mm cannons, one on each side, four total, firing forward. The two Birds carried 2.75-inch rockets in four pods, nineteen in each, one mounted on each side of the two fuselages. Both bore five .50 cal Browning machine guns, four facing outward, two left and two right, and one aft, out the rear lift gate. In attack formation, the “Go-Gos” sped past us, blowing the hell outa the LZ, three hundred meters ahead. They fired thirty-eight rockets (half their loads) and blasted away with 400 rounds of 20mm, plus 200 rounds of M-79, with all that empty brass raining down into the jungle behind them. Obscured by explosions, the LZ disappeared in the smoke. As the Go-Gos flew into the LZ, the forward firing 20mms, the rockets, and the 40mm M-79s ceased firing. The eight .50 cal side door gunners opened up on the LZ, cross-firing underneath one another. Firing out and downwards to the outside of the LZ they spewed another 1,600 pieces of spent .50 cal brass, with the 1/2” copper jacketed lead bullets raining down around into the perimeter of the LZ. After the Chinooks passed the LZ, the .50s in the back of each bird began firing parallel and out from us as we came into the LZ, leaving another 200 rounds of .50 cal brass on the decks of the birds and in the LZ. When we came whopping in through the swirling grey and black smoke from all the expended ordinance, the sixteen Huey door gunners fired their machine guns into the jungle surrounding the LZ, spewing another 4,800 rounds of .30 cal copper-jacketed lead and empty brass into the LZ. (The NVA hated the Go-Gos...) They only built four Go-Go birds: “Birth Control”, “Co$t of Living”,“Easy Money”, and wrecked before deployment: “Stump Jumper”. “Birth Control” got shot down during Tet 1968 and destroyed by NVA mortar fire. “Co$t of Living” had a 20mm cannon come loose and it shot itself down. Someone found the only remaining bird, “Easy Money”, rescued it from the junk pile. It’s restored and on display at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
In the "70's"! The CH-46 was the Marine Corps taxi cab! Once in awhile we rode in CH-53's that was a beast! But the 46 could take 22 packs (two rifle teams) I always felt with two blades we had twice the chance of making it! They were good ships!
I'm 74 and I'm very impressed ... a '71 SUNY Maritime grad in Marine Engineering, USN-LT and USCG Engineer License ... After retiring in 2012 with health issues, I couldn't get any performance upgrade ... Oh, well ... 🥴 But, I'm still moving, kicking ass and taking names ... just call me "Chinook Jr.
CH-47 is undoubtly the B-52 in serving-life of military helicopters ! I am sure, that the children of my grand-children should still see the CHINOOKS in the sky .... somewhere around the world !
There was even a Gunship version ACH47 A. (4) Guns a GO GO, Birth Controll, Easy Money, and Cost of Living. Each were armed with chin mounted M5 40MM Grenade Machine Gun, 5 M2 Machine Guns, 2 Rocket Pods, 2 M24 20MM cannon, or 2 7.62mm Mini Guns, and M60 Machine Guns. 5 gunners and 2 pilots.
I need video of a Chinook CH-47A carrying a JLTV-GP M1278 slung beneath on the slung load hooks. I DID enjoy your video and the information in it thanks for sharing.
Both vehicles have advantages over the other. Like you said, the Huey presents a much smaller target and can land in much tighter spaces. If I’m an infantryman who wants to be inserted in a dangerous place as quickly and unobtrusively as possible, I would prefer the Huey. The Chinook on the other hand is much faster and longer-ranged, with tremendous troop and cargo capacity. Its tandem-rotor design makes it steadier than any other helicopter in a hover. It can land on water. Its rear ramp makes loading and unloading passengers and cargo much faster and easier. It can carry light vehicles that can quickly drive off and on over its rear ramp. It can sling load the M777 howitzer along with its crew and ammo, including Excalibur GPS-guided rounds.
Can you folks mention the horsepower for us Americans instead of just KW (in onscreen text at least)? I know I can look up the conversion but...well, I don't want too.😉
The Chinook will probably have the lifespan equal to the B-52 with continuos upgrades; Hell China has been trying to steal one these for quite awhile for reverse engineering.
I saw Guns-a-gogo. Loved the weapon. There were two other like it, but I hear they were all destroyed in the "non war" we were involved in at the time.
"US New CH-47 Chinook After Upgrade SHOCKED The World!" Nothing in the video pointed out to me exactly what upgrade "SHOCKED The World!" That and the thumbnail is so suspicious to "Click Bait" looking, that I almost just told RU-vid to not show me anymore from this creator with the "Do not recommend channel" option without even watching it. You want to build more subscribers? Stop with the B.S. "Laser Beams" in the thumbnails and the "...After Upgrade SHOCKED The World!" in the title. Nothing in this video, even though informative, "...SHOCKED The World!" Consider this constructive criticism.
"US New CH-47 Chinook After Upgrade SHOCKED The World!" Nothing in the video pointed out to me exactly what upgrade "SHOCKED The World!" That and the thumbnail is so suspicious to "Click Bait" looking, that I almost just told RU-vid to not show me anymore from this creator with the "Do not recommend channel" option without even watching it. You want to build more subscribers? Stop with the B.S. "Laser Beams" in the thumbnails and the "...After Upgrade SHOCKED The World!" in the title. Nothing in this video, even though informative, "...SHOCKED The World!" Consider this constructive criticism. [Edit added here:] Watch more Sandboxx News w/ Alex Hollings, because he's getting it spot on without the "Click Bait" titles and thumbnails. No F/X Shit looking thumbnail, or bullshit clickbait title, AND NO AI VOICE NARRATIONS!!!
"...greatly enhanced improvements" means nothing. It's essentially gibberish. Try saying something like "substantial improvements", or "many enhancements", if no details can be revealed. If the improvements ARE known, list them.
