From 298sq, detached to the HeliDetHol MINUSMA.

Operating as RFR7173 from EGVO to ENRY.

Operating as RFR7172 from EGVO to ENRY.

Performing a MEDEVAC mission for seven UN-troops injured in a convoy attack.

This was a CH-47A converted in 1969 to the BV-347 prototype as an entry for the Heavy Lift Helicopter (HLH) requirement, first flying at Vertol's test facility at Eddystone, PA in May 1970. Phase I changes included upgrades to CH-47C standards, four blade rotors, fuselage stretch, Phase II adding variable incidence wings for extra lift. Hydro-mechanical rotor controls were later replaced with a fly-by-wire system integrating wing and rotor controls automatically. Although successful the Army could not feasibly modify its entire Chinook fleet, but some improvements carried over to the CH-47D

ex Boeing test registration N37051,delivered to the RAF as HC1 on 20 January 1982 (with costruction number MA026), then converted to HC2 (with construction number M7005). Converted to HC4 by Vector Aerospace Ltd at Fleetlands in mid-2014 and eventually to cvtd to HC6A by Boeing at Boscombe Down in 2018.2019 timeframe. Redelivered as such on 8 May 2019. ZA714 was deployed in support of Operation Herrick to Kandahar and is seen here while landing. It's rotating door mounted M134 6 barrels minigun is pointing downwards. The gun has a high rate of fire, capable of 2,000-4,000 rpm of 7.62mm bullets

In the middle of nowhere of the province of Uruzgan, Afghanistan, a Dutch foward operating base, Camp Hadrian in Deh Rawod was established. The base, very often under attack of Taliban had a life-line with Dutch Chinooks and armed protection of Apaches which were based at Tarin Kowt (some 35 miles from Camp Hadrian, as the crow flies). Here D-661 landed at the Camp, to pick up a rotation of Task Force Uruzgan military. They were going home!

This Chinook was delivered to the USArmy as CH-47A with serial 66-00101 and accepted on 9 Sep'66. It was converted to CH-47D with serial 85-24348 and redelivered on 27 May'86. The helicopter then served A/2-159th AVN from Apr'94 to Oct'97 and was transferred to C/159th AVN on 16 Oct'97 up to Jun'03. From 2006, the CH-47D appeared in Afghanistan where it was sadly lost in an accident on 1 Jul'10. It was reported that the accident was not related to enemy fire, no further details known. Strikingly, I pictured 348 some two years earlier at near exact the same spot! See my other photo here

ex Boeing test registration N20075, delivered as a Chinook HC2A to the RAF on 18 Dec'97. ZH891 had the honour to be the last operational HC2 and made a flight as such on 18 February 2015. It was then converted to HC4 by Vector Aerospace Ltd at Fleetlands. In 2017 it was again modified, this time to HC6A by Boeing at Boscombe Down. The Chinook was stricken from RAF service by June 2022 and since stored at homebase Odiham.

Former Boeing test registration N37033, It was delivered as a HC1 to the RAF on 30 Aug'81 (with c/n MA016). Converted to HC2 (with c/n M7006). The Chinook was damaged on 25 Nov'99 during a crash in Oman, 5 miles south of Seeb IAP during night training mission with Special Forces. It was flown back to Brize Norton on 13 Dec'99 aboard an An-124 (RA-82046). It was repaired at Fleetlands using parts of former Argentinian Army CH-47C ZH257. Converted to HC4 by Vector Aerospace Ltd at Fleetlands by early '14 and to HC-6A by Boeing at Boscombe Down by mid-'19. Seen here in late afternoon at Kandahar.