RAF Chinook - Mark 4 - modifications

[NDW]

Afternoon all,

After reading through this website page - New, Upgraded RAF Chinook Helicopter Flies: Armed Forces Int. News (http://www.armedforces-int.com/news/new-upgraded-raf-chinook-helicopter-flies.html), it mentions about 38/46 Current Chinook are being upgraded to Mk 4 status.

It also mentioned about 'The Chinook Mk4 cockpit also features a new seat to accommodate a third crew member, along with other modifications.'

Presumably, this will be 'another' WSOp filling this position?

NDW

[PTC REMF]

Crashworthy seat and work station for the number 2 crewman.

[PICKS135]

Some pictures of station and seat here

View topic - Odiham's new Gate guardian and Mk.4's (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=43185)

[ChristianR354]

I thought the new HC4 has the FLIR sensor just underneath the nose? It doesn't seem to be on the Chinook in the pictures.

[PTC REMF]

The Chinook In the photos is the gate guardian.

[nice castle]

No, I think he means 575. Fitted for but not with...

[charliegolf]

I see some things never change- broom, insertion up the crewman's bum for the use of, Mk1.:ok:

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Any idea whether this means the old gate-guardian is on the move? I only ask because XR458 was the first helicopter I ever flew...

Could've done with that new throne during the first Gulf unpleasantness - 10h30m one sortie on the fold-down jump-seat wasn't much fun (although I did get to go for a stroll around the Robertsons once back south of the border)

[Chinny Crewman]

The Whirlwind is remaining in place as the new Guard is in a different position outside the OM. I think the Whirlwind serial is XR453 not 458? Happy to check if required?

[Stuck On The Ground]

What happened to the Meteor that was there?

[Motleycallsign]

CG, back in the day (early 80's) we used the broom to divert the wind from the exhaust of the APU if the wind was out of normal start limits. I seem to remember there was always a crewman seat in roughly that position but was hardly ever fitted. The 'jump' seat was a dickie seat that fitted in the 'tunnel' underneath the forward transmission.

[Chinny Crewman]

Stuck; the Meteor was scrapped in the late 80s and replaced by the Whirlwind.
Motley; broom - no change. Crewman seat - oils box moveable by the crewman. Jump seat on the Mk2 and 3 is as you describe.

[Rigga]

"Any idea whether this means the old gate-guardian is on the move? I only ask because XR458 was the first helicopter I ever flew... "

It was one of the first aircraft I worked on at Tern Hill and I was a part of the last Major and Modification team for its last trip into Storage at Wroughton.

[chinook240]

Chinnycrewman,
Motley is referring to the original crewman's crashworthy seat that fitted in the heater compartment. Never used much, you ended up with the oils box and my cushion from the jumpseat!!!!!!!!

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Thankyou CC - I'll have to take a squint at my mil logbook when I get home from Jockistan later this week.

[SASless]

So the RAF Wokka's use a crewman as a NAV?

Add a CH-64 kind of Mod....and he could fly the thing from the back seat!

[Motleycallsign]

No navigating involved, they fly IFR (I Follow Roads, Rivers, Railway lines).

[Chinny Crewman]

240 - possession is 9 tenths and I always make sure that P-Strop is extra tight over the cushion!