US helicopters CH-47 Chinook, developed in the 60s of the last century, can get more powerful engines. Boeing Corporation planned test cycle heavy transport helicopter CH-47F Chinook Block II turboshaft engines with new increased power.
As stated in the Corporation, helicopter engines will be installed GE Aviation T408, that apply to the latest heavy helicopters CH-53K King Stallion. The power of the new engine is 7,5 thousands of horsepower, What's on 2,5 thousands more, than that of full-time Honeywell T55 power plants, installed on the CH-47F. In total, two new engines bring the helicopter 5 thousands of additional “horses”.
planned, that will improve the re-engine helicopter flight characteristics of the machine and at the same time reduce fuel consumption by 15 percent as compared to the basic version of the helicopter with the standard engines.
About the test dates are not reported, but it is known, that at the end of the test, Boeing intends to offer re-engine helicopters CH-47F Chinook Block II US Marine Corps.
Boeing Corporation does not intend to stop at replacing the engines in helicopters CH-47 Chinook. Last summer it was reported, that the latest version of the helicopter planned to install the new rotor with composite blades trehprofilnymi. As expected, such a revision will significantly increase the capacity of the machine.
Chinook helicopters are on the US Army armed with 1962 of the year, after a few upgrades. The latest version of helicopters - CH-47F - supplied troops 2008 of the year. The machine has a maximum takeoff weight 22,7 ODP and can carry loads of up to 10,9 tons at speeds up 315 km / h at a distance of up to 740 km.
