odd looking chinook

[barnstormer1968]

I am currently watching the 'discovery shed' channel on TV, and there are some U.S. logging chinooks shown.
they have the fuel tanks removed from the sides, and look quite odd.
Just thought I would mention it, in case someone else would like to have a look.


They look a bit like the eagle transporters from 'space 1999'

Mods, I will delete this in the morning if need be.

[Rigga]

ISTR they also have all the cabin floorboards and sound insulation removed, and they only use the centre hook, to reduce weight too.

It wouldn't surprise me if they've tried to remove a couple of surplus front wheels and a few excess exterior panels!

[TEEEJ]

Looks like you saw footage of a Boeing Vertol BV-234.

YouTube - Columbia BV-234 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mKof56ZFrU)

Columbia Helicopters Incorporated and the Boeing BV-234 Chinook. (http://www.chinook-helicopter.com/history/aircraft/Columbia/Columbia.html)

Columbia the company also use Boeing Vertol BV-107s

YouTube - BV - 107 Start-up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0EuhVJ2P_8)

TJ

[barnstormer1968]

Hi TEEEJ
Yes, those are the ones. The civilian sea knights were also featured, but I figured that more posters would be interested in the Chinook variant.

I found the programme interesting for a few reasons. It was interesting to see Chinook's without external tanks (but with two internal tanks fitted), plus of course a radome on the nose. But it was also interesting to note how these aircraft can operate at a profit, when not only do they have to have a flying crew, but also have five permanent engineers as part of their logging contract, and STILL make a profit. Logging must be more profitable in the U.S.!
It was also noted that although the aircraft had five support staff, that is far fewer than the total support a military chinook would need (oh, and I'm not saying either amount is right/wrong here).

[Agaricus bisporus]

When the Queen of the Skies was retired from Aberdeen three of them went to Columbia Helis and continue earning a living hauling timber to this day, so one of the machines in those videos may well be ex BA Helicopters. No doubt someone has the registration details.

[FrustratedFormerFlie]

What a fate for the wonderful Chinooks of North Sea vintage. I flew on several (as pax) and although if ditched I'd rather have been in a 61, it was a far superior piece of kit to most of what we ended up with subsequently.

So now, while their military sisters are saving lives and are about the most welcome sight (to the good guys) in the skies over the Stan, the civvi versions are reduced to the status of aeriel lumberjacks

[chinook240]

Removing the tanks makes sense from a performance perspective, as we are finding out with our 'brand new' Mk 3 fat tank Chinnies. Fat tanks can increase hover power required by around 5% compared by the normal tanked Mk 2. So removing the tanks altogether must provide a similar improvement.

We work on a 5% per tonne rule of thumb, so removing the tanks from a BV234, which has fat tanks, could give an extra 2 tonnes lift capacity!

[Rigga]

BGG,
Possibly another wheel or two carried then?

[TEEEJ]

Hi Barnstormer,

No problem. I couldn't view the programme as the channel was subscription only.

Hi Agaricus bisporus,

See the following thread

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/234575-ex-abz-bv234s-where-they-now.html

FAA Registry

FAA Registry - Aircraft - Name Results (http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Name_Results.aspx?Nametxt=COLUMBIA&sort_option=1&PageNo=1)

TJ

[NutLoose]

That's not an odd looking Chinook, this is though.......

http://www.chinook-helicopter.com/history/aircraft/A_Models/65-07992/347a.jpg

http://www.chinook-helicopter.com/history/aircraft/A_Models/65-07992/BV347_wing_rotated.jpg

From, and more details as well as images at

CH-47A 65-07992 - Boeing's Model 347 helicopter - A one of a kind CH-47 Chinook helicopter variant. (http://www.chinook-helicopter.com/history/aircraft/A_Models/65-07992/65-07992.html)

[Ian Corrigible]

There are also parts of another 'odd-looking' (and unfortunately now-deceased) Chinook relative on display at the Helicopter Museum in Yeovil: the XCH-62A HLH (http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/modern+conflict/art73707).

Before
http://www.culture24.org.uk/asset_arena/7/94/81/218497/v0_master.jpg

After
http://www.culture24.org.uk/asset_arena/8/94/81/218498/v0_master.jpg

I/C

[barnstormer1968]

I have always wondered how the X62 would have fared if it entered production. It was certainly a good looker IMHO.
That undercarriage leg in the museum, is it near the tail end of the Merlin? (if anyone knows that is, as I may have totally missed it on a recent visit).

As for the link to the X62 HLH, it says it was the worlds largest helicopter. I thought that honour went to the Mil V12.

[Bravo73]

...on display at the Helicopter Museum in Yeovil: the XCH-62A HLH (http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/modern+conflict/art73707).

**cough, cough** Not Yeovil, but Weston-Super-Mare.

[Ian Corrigible]

Mea culpa. I knew it was somewhere in southern Wales. :E

More on the Helicopter Museum's salvage effort here (http://www.hmfriends.org.uk/xch-62_hlh.htm).

I/C

[NutLoose]

Ahhh but do this in a Chinook...............

Visions - A Personal Perspective (http://www.popasmoke.com/visions/image.php?source=4225)

Rotorblade shot to poo, not a problem, unbolt it, ditch the other 2 balancing it and fly home on 3................:eek:

[PPRuNeUser0211]

Strikes me that if you've time to casually land and unbolt two remaining rotor blades, you're not really that much in the poo are you?!