RAF Chinook airframe destroyed - Helmand Province
Thread Starter
RAF Chinook airframe destroyed - Helmand Province
BBC TV news have just announced (10:35 UK time) that an RAF Chinook made an emergency landing in Helmand province last night (19/29 Aug 2009) due to a (possible?) engine fire. Crew and pax recovered by another helicopter and the Chinook was then destroyed by coalition airstrikes.
Great that there appears to be no associated injuries, but what a shame we have lost such a valuable lifting asset, when the lack of rotary airframes in theatre seems to be so critical!
Edit: Story now up on BBC News site:
BBC NEWS | UK | Crew unhurt in Chinook emergency
Great that there appears to be no associated injuries, but what a shame we have lost such a valuable lifting asset, when the lack of rotary airframes in theatre seems to be so critical!
Edit: Story now up on BBC News site:
BBC NEWS | UK | Crew unhurt in Chinook emergency
Last edited by MrBernoulli; 20th Aug 2009 at 10:15.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Oxford
Age: 44
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The BBC quote:
The Ministry of Defence said that in the short term other UK aircraft in the region, and those operated by Nato partners, would be able to cover the "helicopter lift requirement".
"In the medium term, the UK's joint helicopter command is already planning the replacement of this airframe," it said.
Thats all right then - we have spare heavy lift kicking around apparently
Glad to hear all on board were recovered safely.
The Ministry of Defence said that in the short term other UK aircraft in the region, and those operated by Nato partners, would be able to cover the "helicopter lift requirement".
"In the medium term, the UK's joint helicopter command is already planning the replacement of this airframe," it said.
Thats all right then - we have spare heavy lift kicking around apparently
Glad to hear all on board were recovered safely.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Temporarily missing from the Joe Louis Arena
Posts: 2,131
Received 27 Likes
on
16 Posts
Good news that the crew are ok but a shame to lose such a valuable asset.
Replacement as in buy another to replace or replacement as in send another one from the already small pool from the UK to Afghanistan? I've a feeling its the latter.
"In the medium term, the UK's joint helicopter command is already planning the replacement of this airframe," it said.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: [loh-key-shuhn] 1. a place of settlement, activity, or residence 2. a place or situation occupied
Age: 52
Posts: 238
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sad when the loss of one frame is going to have such a dramatic impact on our ops 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ban Chiang,Thailand
Age: 67
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This airframe will NEVER be replaced under Labour.
Remember the 5 J model Hercules the MOD were' urgently' procuring earlier this year.As far as I am aware,this idea has sunk without trace.
Brown considers all money spent on defence a waste which could be given to Africa as aid.
Remember the 5 J model Hercules the MOD were' urgently' procuring earlier this year.As far as I am aware,this idea has sunk without trace.
Brown considers all money spent on defence a waste which could be given to Africa as aid.
Thread Starter
Gainsey,
Not entirely sure what you mean there - all I was trying to convey in the title was some accuracy. Some threads here have misleading or meaningless titles.
Not entirely sure what you mean there - all I was trying to convey in the title was some accuracy. Some threads here have misleading or meaningless titles.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Temporarily missing from the Joe Louis Arena
Posts: 2,131
Received 27 Likes
on
16 Posts
I think he was praising you MrB.
Often thread titles can be a little blunt ('Chinook destroyed' for instance) and give the appearance that their may be fatalities involved.
Often thread titles can be a little blunt ('Chinook destroyed' for instance) and give the appearance that their may be fatalities involved.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Oxford
Age: 44
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Teetering
Why then was the Chinook Mk3 IPT known (in the days of DPA) as FHL - Future Heavy Lift?
Is your definition of 'Heavy' greater than 24.5?
the mighty Chinook is still not heavy lift - only medium
Is your definition of 'Heavy' greater than 24.5?
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lincs
Age: 51
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lift
Can't quite remember the figures - but it was an ex Odiham Stn Cdr that picked me up on the same point a couple of years ago. Perhaps the definitions have changed so we now magically now have heavy lift helicopters - would not surprise me.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Tennessee - Smoky Mountains
Age: 55
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
MSH
It's been a while, but when I was stood under the things hooking, the following were classed as Medium Support Helicopter:
Wessex - Presumably supplanted by Merlin 3
SK(4)
Puma
Chinook
Only the CH-53 was classed as Heavy.
Wessex - Presumably supplanted by Merlin 3
SK(4)
Puma
Chinook
Only the CH-53 was classed as Heavy.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Exiled in England
Age: 48
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What about the skycrane? Is that very b4st4rd heavy lift??
Still glad all made it out ok. Metal and rubber - we can buy another (but only after the nostril miner is gone)
Still glad all made it out ok. Metal and rubber - we can buy another (but only after the nostril miner is gone)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Well, Lincolnshire
Age: 69
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Daily Telegraph report 'military sources' confirming 'shot down'.
RAF Chinook helicopter shot down in Afghanistan in Taliban election 'spectacular' - Telegraph
RAF Chinook helicopter shot down in Afghanistan in Taliban election 'spectacular' - Telegraph
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: london
Age: 48
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hope the Crew are fine - I bet it was brown trousers time!
Anyway - I'm sure our NATO friends will now step up and send more helicopters out? Failing that, MOD will be buying some more Chinooks with the help from Darling and Ainsworth!!
Good job the cupboard isn't empty at ODI!!! Oh wait.......
Anyway - I'm sure our NATO friends will now step up and send more helicopters out? Failing that, MOD will be buying some more Chinooks with the help from Darling and Ainsworth!!
Good job the cupboard isn't empty at ODI!!! Oh wait.......
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a question. Why is the RAF webmaster so slow in putting up info on this subject following official release by the MoD press 'guru'? This news is in the public domain after all.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Temporarily missing from the Joe Louis Arena
Posts: 2,131
Received 27 Likes
on
16 Posts
It's been a while, but when I was stood under the things hooking, the following were classed as Medium Support Helicopter:
Wessex - Presumably supplanted by Merlin 3
SK(4)
Puma
Chinook
Only the CH-53 was classed as Heavy.
Wessex - Presumably supplanted by Merlin 3
SK(4)
Puma
Chinook
Only the CH-53 was classed as Heavy.