Now I know you all enjoy the occasional posts I have done on a particular unit, or the history of something or other, so I thought I would do another quick one tonight.
Some of you will know that I used to be an air traffic controller in the RAAF in a former life so I have a bit of a soft spot for the area of aviation. I am in no way an expert but here is some info about one of the aviation work horses currently doing duty in Afghanistan.
(source)
I am talking about the Chinook. I have collected some information from sources listed below that I thought you might be interested in considering we have Aussies operating Chinooks in Afghanistan at the moment.
I am talking about the Chinook. I have collected some information from sources listed below that I thought you might be interested in considering we have Aussies operating Chinooks in Afghanistan at the moment.
These big beasts are operated by the 5th Aviation Regiment which is currently based in Townsville.
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots (315 kilometres per hour) is faster than many contemporary utility and attack helicopters. Its primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield resupply. There is a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks underneath.
By having two contra-rotating main rotors front and rear of the aircraft, the Chinook eliminates the need for a traditional rear vertical rotor. As both rotors turn in opposite directions, the torque they apply to the helicopter is cancelled out. This arrangement also creates extra lifting capacity by having all of the engine's power dedicated to lift and thrust.
Did you know-
The capability of helicopters to operate and hover diminishes as altitude increases. Known as density altitude, at higher altitudes thin air reduces engine performance as well as the ability of the rotor blades to grab the air, to fly or hover. Warm or hot air, especially during summer, can also drastically reduce the payload and capability of helicopters operating at higher altitudes.
Deployment
The Army's Chinooks from the 5th Aviation Regiment have been used on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Able to lift over 11 tons, they have proved their worth ferrying personnel and stores and supporting the Australian Special Forces. To keep them flying in such a harsh environment, they need a large crew of support staff.
One last little snippet of info is that the Chinooks are sometimes called the Brahmans.
Sources
Till next time............keep spreading the word and happy stitching!
ah .... and so the brahman bulls. Very interesting Jan-Maree
ReplyDeletethank you for this post. So interesting.
ReplyDeleteLearn something everyday. Thanks JM.
ReplyDelete