Reverted Chinooks enter UK service

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) unveiled the first of its 'reverted' Boeing HC.3 heavy/medium-lift transport helicopters at the home of the UK Chinook Force at RAF Odiham, Hampshire, on 13 January.

The first two of eight aircraft that are being converted by Boeing at Boscombe Down arrived at the base in southern England in late 2009. The third aircraft is ready to be delivered and the remaining five will be at Odiham by the end of the year.

The first two aircraft are currently being used for pilot training and will join the fleet of 46 HC.2/2As and remaining HC.3s to form a common pool for deployment.

According to Group Captain Steve Shell, Chinook Force Commander, the RAF will conduct a desert exercise later this year in Morocco where the new HC.3s will be put through their paces before being shipped out to theatre, where the superior 'hot-and-high' performance characteristics of their new Honeywell T55-L-714 turboshaft engines will "significantly improve [the helicopter's] safety margins". Under 'Project Julius' the entire Chinook fleet will receive the new engines on time.

These special forces-configured HC.3 helicopters were part of a batch of 14 HC.2 Chinooks purchased by the MoD in 1995. Having been upgraded to HC.3 standard – which involved the fitting of a 'glass cockpit' and advanced avionics and systems – the eight helicopters were delivered back to the MoD by December 2001.