The vast majority of modern helicopters are built using a single-rotor design. Exceptions happen so rarely that they become a peculiar business card designers, or even the manufacturing country. In the USSR and Russia, such an exception was the Kamov Design Bureau, which designs coaxial helicopters.
And in the United States, Frank Piasecki went “against the rules” - his company became famous for helicopters with two longitudinally located propellers. The most famous of them is the Chinook, which is still in use today, is continuously being improved, and remains the main heavy helicopter of the US Army.
History of the CH-47
The creation of the Chinook is a fairly simple and short story, without tragic episodes.
In 1956, the US Army expressed a desire to replace the CH-37 helicopter with piston engines with a new machine with a gas turbine engine. Later, the requirements expanded - the helicopter was supposed to replace the cargo H-21 and H-34, while being able to transport up to 15 paratroopers.
The creator of the H-21 helicopter, the Piasecki Helicopter company (by this time renamed Vertol), was already developing a prototype of a new helicopter, the V-107, and it suited the military. But in the end, the V-107 was considered too light for transport missions and too heavy for attack missions.
From now on, the future “Iroquois” had to ensure tactical mobility, and the engineers had to create another “flying carriage”.
The V-107 eventually entered service with the US Navy and Marine Corps under the name CH-46.
The new, larger and more powerful helicopter from Vertol received the internal designation V-114, and the “military” designation HC-1B.
The Model 114 took off on its first flight in September 1961, after the company was purchased by Boeing. Already in 1962, the V-114 was put into service, renamed CH-47. And the emerging tradition of naming helicopters in honor of Indian tribes gave the CH-47 another name - “Chinook”.
CH-47 design description
The CH-47 Chinook helicopter is built according to the traditional Piasecki design with two longitudinal rotors. The scheme is perfect for transport workers - you can get a spacious compartment and make the most of its volume. True, due to the complexity of the design and worse maneuverability.
The first series of CH-47 helicopters flew with Lycoming T-55L-5 turboshaft engines producing 2,200 hp.
Later they were replaced by T55-L-7 engines (2650 hp), and version 47B - T55-L-7C (power reached 2850 hp). The power of the power plant of later Chinook models was increased to 6500 hp, and these engines belonged to the same T-55 family.
In all variants, turbines are installed in the tail of the helicopter, on both sides of the main rotor. Torque is transmitted to the CH-47 propellers through engine gearboxes, the main gearbox, connecting shafts and propeller gearboxes. The transmission is cooled by air coming from the air intake in the rear pylon. The helicopter's lubrication system is duplicated; 330 minutes of operation without oil are allowed.
Three-bladed propellers with a diameter of 18.3 m (for the CH-47 F helicopter) rotate in opposite directions. The rectangular blades are made of fiberglass, the toe is encased in a titanium alloy. An anti-icing system can be installed.
The all-metal semi-monocoque fuselage of the CH-47 is rectangular in cross-section, with rounded corners. The double crew cabin has two emergency doors, with a passage leading from the rear of the cabin into the cargo compartment. Inside the Chinook there are 33 seats along the sides, an additional row of 11 seats is located in the center, along the aisle.
Ambulance helicopters could accommodate up to 24 stretchers with wounded and two accompanying orderlies. The sliding door is on the starboard side of the CH-47, and in the rear there is a loading hatch with a folding ramp. The helicopter cabin has round windows, some of which are part of emergency escape hatches. To transport cargo on an external sling, the Chinook is equipped with three hooks. The central hook can take a weight of up to 11970 kg, the front and rear – 7140 kg each.
The CH-47 rotor pylons are on top of the fuselage.
Six protected fuel tanks are located along the sides, inside the fairings. If necessary, additional tanks (up to three pieces) with fuel are placed in the cargo compartment.
The capacity of the main Chinook tanks is 3900 liters, each additional tank is 3025 liters. The helicopter's four landing gear are non-retractable and have shock absorbers and hydraulic disc brakes. The wheels of the front struts are double, unsteerable. The rear wheels are steerable, single.
The Chinook's control system is equipped with hydraulic servos.
The main gearbox drives two alternating current generators that supply two autonomous circuits of the electrical system. An auxiliary power point – gas turbine Solar T62, on the Boeing-Vertol CH-47A Chinook with a power of 80, and on the CH-47B/C Chinook - 90 hp.
Armament of the Chinook
Initially, it was not planned to arm the transport Chinooks, but the transitional modification of the CH-47 B was equipped with three machine gun mounts. M60D 7.62mm machine guns were installed in the doorways and on the cargo ramp. Subsequently, the weapons were replaced with M240 machine guns of a similar caliber.
The ACH-47 attack aircraft (Armed CH-47) had an impressive arsenal.
It carried up to five 7.62mm (or 12.7mm) machine guns, two 20mm automatic cannons, two pods of 70mm unguided rockets, and a 40mm grenade launcher. Machine guns were placed in doorways and portholes, a grenade launcher was located in a movable bow turret, and guns and units of unguided aircraft missiles were mounted on the front.
Modifications of the CH-47 helicopter
The cargo versions of the Chinook, from CH-47 A to F, differed from each other by installing more powerful engines, increasing payload capacity, and improving electronics. The F series helicopters also have a new fuselage design that simplifies maintenance.
The MH-47D modification should support special forces operations. The 160th Special Purpose Aviation Regiment received 12 pieces. They were equipped with an in-flight refueling system and a device for launching troops on cables.
The next series, E, had an increased flight range and new avionics. 26 units were built. In the mid-90s, the Royal Air Force ordered its own version of the Chinook for special operations - the Chinook HC3. Eight such helicopters were assembled, but due to problems with avionics they were converted into transport ones.
The newest "turntable" of special forces - the MH-47G, has improved electronic equipment and design elements from the CH-47 F.
To meet the needs of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, the CH-47 J model was produced under license with different engines and avionics.
Civilian Chinooks were designated “model 234”. There were three options: passenger, transport, cargo-passenger. Passenger CH-47s could carry 44 passengers, with seats installed in four rows inside.
The “civilian” version of the D-series Chinooks began to be called “model 414”.
In 1965, four Chinooks were converted into ACH-47 heavy attack helicopters. Three of these attack aircraft, powerfully armed and protected by armor, were sent to Vietnam to undergo military tests, but logistical difficulties stalled the program. The helicopters that fought were lost in battle, and the only one that survived is still used as a training helicopter.
Performance characteristics of the CH-47 and similar helicopters
The table shows the basic data of the Chinook, comparing it with the closest domestic and foreign analogues. Low-volume and experimental helicopters are not taken into account.
| Parameter | CH-47 E | CH-53D | Mi-6 | SA.321 SuperFrelon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuselage length, mm | 1554 | 20470 | 33160 | 19400 |
| Height, mm | 5770 | 5220 | 9160 | 6660 |
| Main screw diameter, mm | 18590 | 22020 | 35000 | 18900 |
| Cargo compartment length, mm | 9200 | 9140 | 12000 | 7000 |
| Cargo compartment width, mm | 2290 | 1980 | 2500 | 1830 |
| Cargo compartment height, mm | 1980 | 2290 | 2650 | 1900 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 298 | 307 | 340 | 249 |
| Cargo weight in the cabin, kg | 8164 | 13608 | 12000 | 6700 |
| Weight of suspended cargo, kg | 10341 | 9072 | 8000 | 5000 |
| Flight range, km | 2026 | 1641 | 1450 | 1020 |
| Ceiling, m | 3215 | 2195 | 2250 | 2170 |
| Passenger capacity | up to 55 | up to 55 | up to 90 | up to 37 |
| Armament | 3 x 7.62mm machine guns | 2 x 12.7mm machine guns | 1 x 12.7mm machine gun | 1 x 20mm gun |
The main competitor of the Chinook was its compatriot, the Sikorsky CH-53 helicopter. When the Marine Corps felt the need for heavy helicopters, it was the CH-53 that emerged as the winner of the announced competition. And the fleet used these helicopters as anti-submarine helicopters.
The French SuperFrelon (Super Hornet) helicopter, not inferior to the CH-47, turned out to be in little demand and was used primarily by the fleets of several countries, although China even established its licensed production. The choice of the Hornet by the South African armed forces is generally explained simply. France was not a member of NATO, and therefore could sell to South Africans military equipment.
The Soviet Union built direct analogues of the Chinook (longitudinal helicopters), but they were not widely used.
The only representative, the Yak-28, set two world records; during its entire service life, not a single disaster occurred with its participation. But the “circulation” of forty pieces (according to other sources - fifty) is a crumb compared to more than a thousand CH-47.
But it became widespread. It had impressive characteristics, set 16 world records, but was inferior to the CH-47 in durability and was not so widely distributed. And in combat, the “Hook” (NATO designation for the Mi-6) was used to a limited extent.
This in itself does not mean anything, but against the backdrop of the Chinook’s impressive achievements, it does not look like an advantage. The descendant of the “Hook”, the giant Mi-26, surpassed the CH-47 in capacity and payload to such an extent that it can even be considered a representative of a different class.
Combat use of the Chinook
When the Vietnam War began, Chinooks were immediately sent there as part of the 1st Cavalry (Airmobile) Division. Helicopters carried soldiers, pulled out damaged equipment, transported armored personnel carriers and light tanks, and delivered artillery pieces to otherwise inaccessible positions.
In other words, they transported everything they could lift. CH-47s were used as improvised bombers, dropping tear or incendiary bombs from the tail hatch.
In the 70s, the United States supplied twin-propeller helicopters to Iran.
After the overthrow of the Shah, supplies of Chinooks ceased, and American CH-47s had to take part in the Iran-Iraq War. In 1982, Iranian Chinooks played a key role in Operation Fathol-Mobin, landing soldiers behind Iraqi lines.
In 1976, Libya acquired 24 Italian-built Chinooks. They saw limited use during the war with Chad, and by 2002 most of the Libyan CH-47s were sold due to the inability to maintain their operational condition.
In the Falklands, the Chinooks had to fight on both sides. The Argentines used four helicopters - the British destroyed one on the ground and captured the other. Three British CH-47s were lost along with the container ship Atlantic Conveyor, and the fourth became famous for transporting a total of 1,500 troops, 95 wounded, 650 prisoners of war and 550 tons of cargo.
Chinooks have been and continue to be used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The tasks of the honored helicopter remain the transfer of troops, the evacuation of damaged light equipment, and the supply of remote checkpoints.
Miscellaneous about CH-47
The already mentioned British Chinook with the call sign Bravo November, deployed in the Falklands, is famous not only for the volume of cargo transported. Along with the Atlantic Conveyor ship, not only other heavy helicopters were lost, but also all spare parts for the CH-47 along with tools.
During one flight, BravoNovember, “thanks to” an altimeter malfunction and poor visibility, hit the water at a speed of 175 km/h. The crew retained control of the vehicle and returned to base, and the damage was considered minor.
20 years later, the old Chinook (ordered back in 1978) distinguished itself in Iraq, delivering Royal Marines to the battlefield, and in 2006, in Afghanistan, evacuating wounded soldiers from Taliban fire. Four of the pilots who flew Bravo November were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
One American “Chinook” took part in a not so heroic, but no less interesting story. In 1988, Libyan forces abandoned an Mi-24 attack helicopter in the desert. To capture a sample of enemy equipment, the CH-47 took it out at night during a sandstorm. The operation ended successfully.
Conclusion
The predecessors of the Chinook, veterans of Korea, were outdated and went out of service quite quickly. But the CH-47 turned out to be a representative of equipment that was destined for a very long life. The newest and best, in the early sixties of the last century, it is still in operation and production to this day, 50 years later.
The helicopter did not set world records, did not exceed the parameters of its competitors - and yet many countries chose it.
This popularity cannot be attributed to American influence - the American CH-53 is much less common.
The qualities of the Chinooks were also proven by their rich (for a cargo, not even a universal model) combat career. And the fact that the experience of creating the Chinook did not allow the development of new vehicles can be explained simply - a replacement for the old CH-47 is not yet required.
Video
Since the advent of helicopters, the scope of their operation has become very extensive. They are excellent for delivering various types of cargo or evacuating the wounded, as well as for delivering precise and lightning strikes against the enemy. Our review presents 19 of the most best models military transport helicopters around the world.
1. Attack helicopter - McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache
McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache is the main attack helicopter of the United States Army and has been in service since the mid-1980s. The model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which maximum speed aircraft can reach 293 kilometers per hour. The presented sample weighs approximately 5165 kilograms. Its length is 18 m and its wingspan is 15 meters.
2. Multi-purpose helicopter - Westland Lynx
Westland Lynx
3. Attack helicopter - Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne
Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose helicopter that was created by two companies Westland and Aerospatiale. The model made its first flight on March 21, 1971, and entered service at the end of 1978. The maximum permissible flight speed is 324 kilometers per hour. The length of this model reaches 15 m, and the wingspan is 13 meters.
4. Multi-purpose helicopter - Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche
Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche is an American multi-role reconnaissance and attack helicopter that made its first flight on January 4, 1996. The model weighs approximately 4218 kilograms, while its maximum flight speed reaches 324 kilometers per hour. One fully filled tank will last approximately 2220 km. The length of the presented aircraft is 14 m, and the wingspan is 12 meters.
5. Multi-purpose helicopter - Ka-60 “Kasatka”
Ka-60 "Killer whale" is a Russian multi-purpose military transport helicopter with a length of 16 m and a wingspan of 14 meters. This model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum flight speed can reach 308 km per hour. One fully filled tank will last the aircraft approximately 615 kilometers.
6. Attack helicopter - Mi-24
Mi-24 is a Soviet/Russian attack helicopter developed at the Moscow plant named after M. L. Mil. The presented model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 335 kilometers per hour. The length of the model is approximately 18 m, and the wingspan is 6.5 meters. The model made its first flight in 1969. The cost of the Mi-24 is approximately 12 million US dollars.
7. Multi-purpose helicopter - Mi-26
Mi-26 is a Soviet heavy multi-purpose transport helicopter developed at the Moscow plant named after M. L. Mil. The presented model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 295 kilometers per hour. This sample weighs 28 tons, and is approximately 40 meters long, while the flight range from one fully filled tank is approximately 800 km. The cost of the Mi-26 is about 18 million US dollars.
8. Attack helicopter - Agusta A129 Mangusta
Agusta A129 Mangusta is an attack helicopter developed by the Italian company Agusta. The presented model weighs 2.5 tons, while the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 352 kilometers per hour. The length of this sample is approximately 14 meters, and the flight range from one fully filled tank is 510 km. It made its first flight on September 15, 1983. The Agusta A129 Mangusta costs about 22 million US dollars.
9. Attack helicopter - Bell AH-1Z Viper
Bell AH-1Z Viper is an American attack helicopter based on the Bell AH-1 Super Cobra. The presented model weighs 5.5 tons, while the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 411 kilometers per hour. The length of this sample is approximately 18 meters, and the flight range from one fully filled tank is 685 km. It made its first flight on December 8, 2000. The Bell AH-1Z Viper costs about $31 million.
10. Military transport helicopter - Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Boeing CH-47 Chinook- This is a heavy military transport helicopter with a longitudinal design. In the United States Army, it replaced the CH-54 model and has been widely used since the early 1960s, exported to 16 countries. The length of this sample is approximately 30 meters. It made its first flight in 1962. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook costs about $35 million.
11. Multi-role helicopter - Bell UH-1 Iroquois
Bell UH-1 "Iroquois" is an American multi-purpose helicopter created by Bell Helicopter Textron. It is one of the most famous and popular machines in the history of helicopter manufacturing. Serial production began in 1960. The model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine. It made its first flight on October 20, 1956, and was put into operation at the end of 1959.
12. Attack helicopter - Denel AH-2 Rooivalk
Denel AH-2 Rooivalk is a South African attack helicopter manufactured by Denel Aerospace Systems. This model weighs about 5,730 kilograms, and the flight range from one fully filled tank reaches about 740 kilometers. The maximum permissible speed of the model is approximately 309 km/h. The aircraft made its first flight in 1990. The Denel AH-2 Rooivalk costs approximately $40 million.
13. Attack helicopter - Eurocopter Tiger
Eurocopter Tiger is a modern attack helicopter developed by the Franco-German consortium Eurocopter. This model weighs about 3060 kilograms, and the flight range from one fully filled tank reaches about 800 kilometers. The maximum permissible speed of the model is approximately 230 km/h. The aircraft made its first flight in April 1990.
14. Attack helicopter - Ka-52 “Alligator”
Ka-52 "Alligator" is a Russian attack helicopter that is capable of hitting armored vehicles, manpower and air targets on the battlefield. It is a modernized version of the Ka-50 “Black Shark” model.
15. Attack helicopter - CAIC WZ-10
CAIC WZ-10 is an attack helicopter manufactured by the People's Republic of China. Developed with the participation of Russian scientists. Adopted by the PLA in February 2011. The model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 300 km/h. It weighs about 5540 kilograms, and the flight range from one fully filled tank is 820 kilometers. The sample made its first flight on April 29, 2003.
16. Multi-purpose helicopter - Mi-2
Mi-2 is a Soviet multi-purpose helicopter developed by the M. L. Mil Design Bureau in the early 1960s. In 1965, mass production was launched in Poland. Widely used to perform a variety of civil and military tasks. Its length is 11 m and its wingspan is 14 meters. The model is equipped with a powerful GTD-350 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 200 kilometers per hour.
17. Attack helicopter - Ka-50
Ka-50 is a Soviet/Russian single-seat attack helicopter designed to destroy armored and mechanized vehicles, air targets and manpower on the battlefield. Its length is 16 m and its wingspan is 14 meters. The model is equipped with a powerful TV3-117 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 390 kilometers per hour. Made its first flight on June 17, 1982. The Ka-50 costs about 16 million US dollars.
18. Multi-purpose helicopter - Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is an American multi-purpose helicopter that entered service with the United States Army, replacing the previous Bell UH-1 model. The maximum permissible flight speed of this aircraft is 294 kilometers per hour. Its length reaches 20 m, and its wingspan is 16 meters. The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk costs approximately $21 million.
19. Multi-purpose helicopter - Mi-8
Mi-8 is a Soviet/Russian multi-purpose helicopter developed at the Moscow plant named after M.L. Mile. It is the most popular twin-engine helicopter in the world. The presented model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 260 kilometers per hour. The length of the model is approximately 18 m, and the wingspan is 21 meters. The model made its first flight in 1967.
And aircraft lovers will probably be interested in looking at these
Among the large number of helicopter designs that have been developed so far, the widely used design is with two coaxially located rotors, which was first used by M. V. Lomonosov on his “aerodrome machine.” Both rotors in this scheme are on the same axis, one under the other. The shaft of the upper screw passes inside the hollow shaft of the lower screw. The propellers rotate in opposite directions, so two reaction torques are transmitted to the fuselage, mutually balancing each other. Helicopters built according to this design have good maneuverability.
In particular, by changing the installation angles of the blades of one of the propellers in comparison with the installation angles of the blades of the other propeller (differential change in the overall pitch of the propellers), a difference is achieved in their reaction moments, which, being transmitted to the fuselage, turns the helicopter in one direction or another. The longitudinal and lateral control and the up and down control will be described below. For now, we only note that the principles of such control are the same for most helicopters.
Helicopter with two propellers
In Russia, a helicopter was built according to this scheme back in 1907 by designer Antonov. Subsequently, this scheme was used in many countries. Modern helicopter design II. I. Kamov was also created according to a twin-screw coaxial design.
The main advantages of helicopters built according to this design are their small size and light weight. This is achieved by the absence of a long tail boom to install the tail rotor and long shafts to transmit torque from the engine to the propellers, since the propellers are installed on the same vertical axis side by side.
It is interesting to note that all helicopters weighing up to 800 kg are built using a twin-rotor coaxial design. It is possible that such helicopters will become widespread aircraft for individual use in the near future.
This scheme, like any other, is not without drawbacks. Thus, due to the fact that the lower propeller operates in a stream of air thrown back and twisted by the upper propeller, its operating conditions worsen and the calculation of the propeller during design is difficult.
Helicopter with two longitudinally located rotors
The design of a helicopter with longitudinally located rotors was first proposed by N.I. Sorokin. According to this scheme, one propeller is located above the forward part of the fuselage, and the second - above the tail. Both propellers can be driven by one or two engines. The direction of rotation of the screws is opposite to mutually cancel out the reactive moments.
According to this design, it is advantageous to build a heavy multi-seat helicopter, since the fuselage of such a helicopter turns out to be a convenient room for cargo and passengers and, in addition, a helicopter of this design has good longitudinal controllability and allows a significant change in the position of the center of gravity along the fuselage axis. So, if the helicopter lowers its nose, i.e. the center of gravity moves forward, a diving moment will be created, which can easily be eliminated by increasing the thrust of the nose rotor with a corresponding decrease in the thrust of the propeller installed in the tail. When moving the center of gravity, the slots will have to increase the thrust of the propeller installed in the tail and reduce the thrust of the nose propeller.
The advantage of a helicopter built according to this design is that it has a small cross-section of the fuselage, and therefore low harmful drag, which allows it to fly at the highest speeds.
The disadvantage of a helicopter built according to this scheme is that the rear rotor, when the helicopter flies forward, operates in the air previously disturbed by the front rotor, and this reduces its efficiency.
A model of a helicopter with two longitudinally located propellers is shown. To facilitate hangar storage, helicopter rotor blades can be folded over the fuselage, which greatly reduces the size of the helicopter.
American military helicopters are some of the best helicopters in the world.
Since 1942, the US military has used thousands of helicopters for reconnaissance, transport and combat support. Developed in the 1930s and used in warfare a decade later, the main difference between a helicopter and an airplane is the blades that vertical take-off and landing, hovering, the ability to fly forward, backward, and from side to side - in a word, providing more convenient movement in space.
Between the very first R-4 used during World War II and the futuristic S-97, we've rounded up 12 of the best US military helicopters that support the Army from the skies.
UH-60 "Black Hawk" (Black Hawk)
The Army began delivering UH-60s to troops in 1978. Black Hawk's mission is to transport troops and provide logistical support. However, he has also participated in medical evacuation, search and rescue, and armed escort missions. More than 2,000 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters are in service with the US Army.
AH-64 "Apache" (Apache)
As of 2014, the Apache was the most common attack helicopter in the world. As of January 2015, the Apache fleet had accumulated more than 3.9 million flight hours since its initial delivery in 1984, according to its manufacturer Boeing. The Apache has four main rotor blades and also four tail rotors. The AH-64's "baptism of fire" took place during the American invasion of Panama in December 1989.
Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Development of the Boeing Chinook began in 1956. The twin-rotor medium transport helicopter was delivered for its first use in Vietnam in 1962. And although many advanced options have already appeared, it is still used in the army, and no reduction is expected; its service life is up to 2060 - perhaps it will be the first 100-year helicopter
The H-34 first flew in 1954, and was acquired by the Army and Navy in 1955. According to the Pacific Aviation Museum, it is one of the most recognizable helicopters in military history. It had an unusual shape, with the engine behind the cabin. Also called "Choctaw", and mainly known for its multi-purpose use in Vietnam. Unfortunately, its manufacturers decided that future military helicopters require more space than the Seahorse allows.
MH-6 "Little Bird"
Nicknamed the 'Killer Egg', its main task is to deliver special forces over rooftops or into tight spaces. It was originally developed for reconnaissance, but was also used for special operations and it has proven its effectiveness in combat.
Bell UH-1 "Iroquois"
More affectionately called 'Huey', one of the most famous and popular helicopters in the history of helicopter manufacturing. Serially produced since 1960. The total number of helicopters of all modifications is more than 16,000. The current helicopter variant used by the US Marine Corps is the UH-1Y. It was first used in Vietnam to move infantry. The Drug Enforcement Administration still uses Hueys for anti-drug raids in Afghanistan.
S-61/SH-3 Sea King
The Sea King was the first amphibious helicopter in military service. It was used by the Navy to detect, classify, track and destroy enemy submarines. It consists of a boat-like body-hull and a pontoon with floating bags that give S-61 the ability to land on water. Although it is no longer in production, it still serves the President of the United States
Bell V-22 Osprey
Bell-Boeing's Osprey is a multi-role combat helicopter that uses tiltrotor technology combining the best aircraft and helicopters into one helicopter. Thanks to this technology, the V-22 takes off and lands like a helicopter, but transforms into a turboprop aircraft in flight. The Air Force uses the CV-22 iteration for special operations. Overall, the Osprey has been deployed in transport and evacuation operations throughout Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Kuwait.
The CH-53, produced by Sikorsky, is both the largest and heaviest helicopter used by the military. It has been in use for almost three decades, and has seven rotor blades. The Marine Corps has used them since 1980 for heavy duty work, as they can carry 13,000 kg of payload. The CH-53E is expected to be in service until 2025.
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight
Helicopter Aircraft produced the first Sea Knight for the Marine Corps and entered service in 1964. The helicopter began military service in Vietnam, where it transported troops and cargo for Navy ships in the China Sea. It was a medium-sized civilian and military transport helicopter used in Beirut, Operation Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan for attack, transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. He was discharged from the Navy in 2014 and from the Marine Corps in 2015.
Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
Manufactured by Bell, the Kiowa is used for reconnaissance and close fire support of ground troops. The equipment includes television and infrared devices, a laser rangefinder-target designator, a Doppler radar system and a night vision device mounted on the pilot's helmet. The Kiowa fleet logged 800,000 combat hours. It was to be replaced by the RAH-66 Comanche, which was revised in 2004. The OH-58D helicopter is expected to be retired from service at the end of 2016.
Bell AH-1 "Cobra"
The world's first specially designed combat helicopter, as it was successfully used in the Vietnam War and other armed conflicts. The military has used it since 1967, and was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. The Super Cobra variant is armed with both air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles and can also be equipped with unguided Hydra missiles. All four Marine Corps helicopter squadrons equipped with Super Cobras took part in the operation against Saddam Hussein's army.
The US Army is considering two new high-tech military rotorcraft projects: the V-280 Valor tiltrotor from Bell Helicopter and the coaxial pusher helicopter from Sikorsky and SB-1 Defiant. Flight tests of both vehicles are scheduled for 2017, American military observer Chris wrote in Warrior. This will be their first official testing in the US Army.
SB-1 Defiant multi-role helicopter prototype
BoeingThe new helicopters were created during the JMR TD program (Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator, Sample of a single multi-purpose machine), which, in turn, is part of the program to create aircraft future with vertical take-off (Future Vertical Lift, FVL), capable of replacing the famous Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk and Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters, currently in service with the US Army. A new fleet of combat and transport helicopters is expected to be created by 2030.
“The development of two different high-tech, future-proof helicopters is already well underway. Ground testing will begin in 2016 and initial flight testing is planned for 2017,” confirmed JMR program director Dan Bailey.
According to him, the creation of helicopters is on schedule, “in strict accordance with the cooperation plans of co-executors.”
According to the tactical and technical requirements for new vehicles, their cruising speed must exceed 500 km/h, and their combat radius must be more than 400 km.
The next generation of helicopters will also be capable of operating in difficult weather conditions.
“We have set a speed requirement of at least 500 km/h because this requires the use of new technologies. In accordance with it, engineers and designers have put forward many breakthrough ideas,” said Bailey.
He said a faster, more maneuverable helicopter that could fly much longer distances without mid-air refueling would allow U.S. Army units to more effectively engage enemy targets or deliver small, mobile special forces teams to operations.
The new helicopter will be developed taking into account the latest advances in the field of avionics in order to detect the enemy in a timely manner and use next-generation weapons, the requirements for a combat vehicle are described in.
“We need technologies and projects that are significantly different from what we have today. The new helicopters will carry more equipment and weapons, be more maneuverable and will perform combat missions with a greater range,” said FVL project manager Rich Kretschmer.
Next year, Bell Helicopter will demonstrate the third-generation V-280 Valor combat tiltrotor to the US Army.
A tiltrotor is an aircraft with rotating bladed rotors, which during takeoff and landing act as lifting rotors, similar to a helicopter, and in horizontal flight as pulling ones, while the lifting force is provided by an airplane-type wing.
The V-280 was created taking into account the experience in the design and operation of the first-generation XV-3 and XV-15 tiltrotors, as well as the subsequent civilian tiltrotor BA 609 and the first production military tiltrotor V-22 Osprey of the second generation.
“Unlike the V-22, whose propellers tilted along with the engines, the V-280 engines are fixed in a horizontal position, and the transition between helicopter and airplane modes is carried out by tilting the propellers alone,” the deputy director explained to Gazeta.Ru.
The V-280's wing is forward-swept, rather than reverse-swept, as is the case with the V-22. It will be produced as a single piece using Large Cell Carbon Core technology, which will reduce the weight of the structure and production costs. This technology also allows you to quickly identify defects that arise during operation. The tiltrotor fuselage will also be made of composite materials. The V-280 Valor features a V-tail and remote system triple redundant control.
The V-280 crew consists of four people. On board the tiltrotor can carry up to 11 passengers.
The combat radius of the tiltrotor, previously named by Bell, is 926 km. Ferry flight range is 3889 km. Load capacity - 4500 kg.
The power plant consists of two General Electric T 64-419 engines with a power of 5000 hp.
Another promising machine is the SB1 Defiant multi-role helicopter with coaxial rotors and pusher tail rotors. The project is based on the company's Sikorsky X2 demonstrator, which also became the basis for the promising S-97 Raider attack helicopter.
Unlike the strike version, the SB1 Defiant is designed to carry out transport operations, landing troops, performing search and rescue operations and evacuating the wounded from the battlefield. The helicopter may subsequently enter service with the US Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
It is expected that the helicopter may begin to enter service with the troops as early as 2018 and by 2030 will completely replace the outdated, according to the American military, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
The JMR/FVL program involves integrating a wide range of advanced sensors, weapons and avionics into the future combat vehicles, which provide the ability to remote control in cases where the pilot is incapacitated by injury or killed, Pentagon officials explained to Warrior.
The JMR TD/FVL project documents describe the task of developing a man-machine interface with the automatic execution of a large number of a wide variety of functions in order to relieve the pilot and crew to take on more important tasks during a combat mission.
It is planned, for example, to introduce technologies on promising tiltrotors that assist the pilot in making this or that decision, organize and prioritize all information entering the pilot’s cockpit, and optimize visual, 3D, audio and other information signals. Tiltrotor pilots will have the ability to receive video from nearby unmanned aerial vehicles and control those drones during flight. Some of the information can be displayed in the helicopter cockpit, and some can be displayed in the pilots’ helmets.
According to representatives of the US Army, promising helicopters are expected to integrate countermeasures various types enemy weapons - from small arms to man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
Among such technologies is Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM), a high-tech laser jammer capable of deflecting incoming enemy missiles from their course.
CIRCM is an improved version of the Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system currently deployed on US Air Force aircraft. The CIRCM system is expected to be ready in 2018. By 2030, it is expected that even more advanced technologies will be used.
The new helicopter program involves the creation of new technologies for night vision devices for pilots, thermal imagers, electro-optical sensors, improvement of laser rangefinders and laser designators.
According to JMR, the helicopters are designed to combine weapons and reconnaissance capabilities for the future use of helicopters in a fully autonomous mode, when the vehicle will independently detect, track and fire a large number of targets in sharp maneuvers, adjusted for wind and other conditions.
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