Helicopters

‘The AH-1Z Viper is faster and more maneuverable than the heavier AH-64D/E Apache. The drawback to this, however, is firepower,’ Caleb Posey, Apache Helicopter Repairman at US Army

The AH-1 Cobra is a two-blade rotor, single-engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It was developed using the engine, transmission, and rotor system of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois. A member of the prolific Huey family, the AH-1 is also referred to as the Huey Cobra or Snake.

The AH-1 was the backbone of the US Army’s attack helicopter fleet but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service. Upgraded versions continue to fly with the militaries of several other nations. The AH-1 (AH-1W Super Cobra and AH-1Z Viper) twin-engine versions remain in service with the US Marine Corps (USMC) as the service’s primary attack helicopter.

But what are the differences between Cobra and Apache attack helicopters? And which one is better?

Caleb Posey, Apache Helicopter Repairman at US Army (2018–present), explains on Quora;

‘Well, the modern, AH-1Z Super Cobra (more correctly known as the Viper, but most of the crewmen/Marines I work with call it a Super Cobra, so I will refer to it as such from this point forward) is much lighter than the AH-64D/E Apache, and more aerodynamic as well. It has a modern 4-bladed rotor, and big, shiny new modern engines. This makes it faster and more maneuverable than the heavier Apache. You can see the size difference pretty easily:

‘The drawback to this, however, is firepower. The Super Cobra has a 20mm cannon vs. the Apache’s significantly more powerful 30mm. The payload is also much smaller, and the survivability of the airframe is not as good. The Super Cobra can be thought of as a “medium” attack helicopter, while the Apache is a “heavy.” The Little Bird is more of a “light.”

‘The Marines are the only ones to still use the Super Cobra, as it gives them a nice combination of firepower and mobility (like ease of transport and logistical support in addition to flight characteristics), while the Army prefers the heavier hitting Apache. That’s a very simplified explanation of the two birds, but I think it does the job.’

Posey continues;

‘I will be more specific here:

AH-1Z:

‘(The most powerful version, in current use by the USMC. One landed at my airfield yesterday.)

• Never exceed speed: 222 knots (255 mph, 411 km/h) in a dive
• Cruise speed: 160 kt (184 mph, 296 km/h)
• Range: 370 nmi (426 mi, 685 km)
• Service ceiling: 20,000+ ft (6,000+ m)
• Rate of climb: 2,790 ft/min (14.2 m/s)

AH-64E:

‘(The most powerful version in service, slowly replacing the older D model. I work on the E models daily.)

• Never exceed speed: 197 knots (227 mph, 365 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h)
• Range: 257 nmi (295 mi, 476 km) with Longbow radar mast
• Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m) minimum loaded
• Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s)

Posey concludes;

‘As you can see, the NEWEST version of the AH-1 is faster, with faster rate of climb, than the newest version of the AH-64 Apache.’

Photo by U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps

The declaration signifies that the USAF now possesses sufficient HH-60Ws, logistics requirements, and trained Airmen to support a 30-day deployment to any independent location with a package of four aircraft

Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, declared the HH-60W Jolly Green II has reached initial operational capability on Oct. 4, 2022.

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, designed and manufactured the HH-60W, which enables the US Air Force (USAF) to conduct rescue missions at greater ranges, in the most challenging environments, and with increased survivability.

As told by Capt. Lauren Gao, Air Combat Command Public Affairs, in the article HH-60W reaches initial operational capability, the declaration signifies that the USAF now possesses sufficient HH-60Ws, logistics requirements, and trained Airmen to support a 30-day deployment to any independent location with a package of four aircraft.

“It’s an exciting day for Combat Rescue as we bring a new platform and its upgraded capabilities into operation,” said Maj. Gen. David Lyons, Director of Operations at Air Combat Command. “This declaration is the culmination of years of hard work and vision. Current and future combat environments require us to maneuver further and faster than ever before, and the capabilities provided by the Jolly Green II support the platform’s viability for our Air Force Personnel Recovery core function for as long as possible.”

“This declaration is a vote of confidence from U.S. Air Force leadership and demonstrates the critical role of and need for the HH-60W,” said Nathalie Previte, vice president, of Sikorsky Army & Air Force Systems, in a Lockheed Martin news release. “Sikorsky is committed to continuing deliveries of the Department of Defense’s only dedicated combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter and to providing the most capable platform to rescue crews who depend on this aircraft day-in and day-out to conduct vital life-saving missions.”

The 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, one of the first locations to receive the HH-60W, held a ceremony to mark the declaration on Sept. 9.

“The airmen of the 23rd Wing have done a tremendous job working with partners to get this aircraft combat-ready on time,” said Col. Russ Cook, 23rd Wing commander. “Bottom line, the future of Air Force Rescue is secure, and our team is ready to recover anybody, anytime, anywhere, against any adversary.”

As the sole dedicated combat rescue platform in the Department of Defense, the Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter builds on the decades-long legacy of USAF combat rescue and recapitalizes the critical combat search and rescue fleet providing USAF combat rescue warriors with the best capability for their critical and demanding lifesaving mission. The HH-60W Jolly Green II, which is replacing the aging HH-60G Pavehawk, was specially built for the Air Force’s combat rescue mission based on fully vetted operational requirements.

Leveraging the proven survivability and reliability of the H-60M Black Hawk, the HH-60W Jolly Green II incorporates advanced digital design techniques, an open architecture for rapid mission system integration, an air refueling system, upgraded survivability and defensive systems, cabin and cockpit armor, integrated weapons, and an increase in main fuel tank capacity to 644 gallons. These advanced technologies enable the Jolly Green II to meet the Combatant Commander’s demands of today and the emerging Joint All Domain Operations (JADO) requirements in near-peer competition and win in conflict.

Capability Highlights:

• Expanded aerodynamic and hover performance
• Increased main full tank – 644 gallons vs 360 gallons – and air refuellable for greater range
• Advanced and integrated survivability and defensive systems
• Expanded communications, including two Tactical Datalinks & Intel Receivers for Net-centric connectivity to operate in the joint-all domain environment
• Higher resolution sensors
• Larger main cabin
• Upgraded armor and ballistic protection

Sikorsky has delivered 24 aircraft to the Air Force, including all Engineering & Manufacturing Development and Lot 1 aircraft. Lot 2 deliveries, comprised of 12 aircraft, began in June of this year. Sikorsky has been awarded four production lots to date, most recently Lot 4 for 14 aircraft in February 2022. The contract for Lot 5 for an additional 10 or more aircraft is expected to be awarded by the Air Force in 2023.

Photo by Lockheed Martin and Airman 1st Class Deanna Muir / U.S. Air Force

Touting it as the next evolution of the current AH-64E v6 attack helicopter, the Modernized Apache can be differentiated externally from the classic Apache by its longer wing

During AUSA 2022, Boeing took the opportunity to unveil its Modernized Apache concept to leaders of the US Army, Alert 5 first noted.

Touting it as the next evolution of the current AH-64E v6 attack helicopter, the Modernized Apache can be differentiated externally from the classic Apache by its longer wing, which allows it to have three hard points per wing, upward-facing engine exhaust and the substitution of the chain gun with a laser turret.

According to Boeing’s website, ‘current Army plans call for the Apache to remain operational and an integral part of the service’s aviation forces for decades.

‘At Boeing, we understand that for the Army to maintain rotorcraft dominance in future Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), the Apache needs to be optimized to complement the next-generation platforms in the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) ecosystem. Moreover, we believe that it’s incumbent on all of us in the industry to keep bringing forward the best ideas and innovative solutions to meet the emerging and future needs of our Soldiers with speed and affordability.

‘And so, Boeing is proud and excited to introduce the Modernized Apache — a dominant, affordable concept built on the combat-proven Apache platform that represents the next evolution of the current AH-64E v6.

‘The Modernized Apache concept is capable of seamlessly and effectively meeting the Army’s evolving attack and reconnaissance requirements — including increased agility, interoperability, lethality, survivability and reach.

‘It also leverages, protects and preserves the established, worldwide industrial base already mature and in place to support future Apache engineering, manufacturing, development and production.’

To ensure that the Army can operate, fight, and win on the future MDO battlefield, the Modernized Apache will embrace and integrate cutting-edge technology to keep delivering the options and tools needed to support Soldiers on the ground.

The following six modernization elements provide the framework for the Apache’s evolution into the Modernized concept and offer the blueprint for continued dominance:

• Drivetrain upgrades to unlock Improved Turbine Engine (ITE) capabilities for enhanced power, range, efficiency and speed;
• A Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) for maximum interoperability, and faster integration and fielding of advanced capabilities;
• Advanced mission systems to increase interoperability to the network and to reduce pilot cognitive strain and workload during operations;
• Advanced sensors and sensor fusion for better and more resilient connectivity across domains and operations in all environmental conditions;
• Airborne long-range precision munitions, Air Launched Effects (ALE), and potential future directed energy weapon system integration for increased lethality;
• Advanced sustainment through a more capable and lower life cycle cost airframe, as well as affordable remanufacture and minimized procurement costs.

The AH-64 Apache was designed to be an extremely tough survivor under combat. The prototype Apache made its first flight in 1975 as the YAH-64, and in 1976, Hughes received a full-scale development contract. In 1982, the Army approved the program, now known as AH-64A Apache, for production. Deliveries began from the McDonnell Douglas plant at Mesa, Ariz., in 1984 — the year Hughes Helicopters became part of McDonnell Douglas.

Highly maneuverable and heavily armed, the combat-proven Apache helicopter is the backbone of the US Army’s all-weather, ground-support capability. The AH-64D Apache Longbow, which first flew as a prototype on May 14, 1992, provided a quantum leap in capability over the AH-64A. The Apache Longbow’s fire-control radar and advanced avionics suite gave combat pilots the ability to rapidly detect, classify, prioritize, and engage stationary or moving enemy targets at standoff ranges in nearly all-weather conditions. There is also an international Apache export version.

In 2003, the Army accepted the first advanced technology Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow, referred to as Block II. The Block II version incorporated advanced avionics, digital enhancements, and communications upgrades.

In 2011, Boeing delivered the first AH-64D Apache Block III multirole attack helicopter to the Army. Block III brought superior flight performance and increased networked communications capabilities. The AH-64D Apache Block III was renamed the AH-64E Apache “Guardian” in 2012.

From the AH-64A in 1984 to today’s AH-64E Version 6, or v6, the Apache has grown in leaps and bounds — time and again exceeding expectations and redefining the capabilities of the platform. The Apache has proven to be an extremely lethal attack helicopter platform as well as a very powerful and effective Reconnaissance platform.

Photo by Boeing

The Royal Australian Navy was the first international navy to select the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, acquiring 24 aircraft from 2013 to 2016

The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a firm-fixed-price contract to produce an additional 12 Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company) MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Procured via the US Government’s Foreign Military Sales agreement, the new aircraft will add a third ‘Romeo’ squadron of unparalleled capability to the RAN’s Fleet Air Arm.

“The ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopter instills confidence in navies worldwide for its high operational availability in the harsh maritime environment, and for the fully integrated mission systems and sensors that quickly generate a complete picture of the surface and subsurface domains,” said Hamid Salim, vice president, Sikorsky Maritime & Mission Systems, in a Lockheed Martin news release. “We thank the RAN for showing confidence in the broad mission flexibility of this proven multi-role helicopter. Ongoing and planned upgrades to the MH-60R through partnership with the U.S. Navy, RAN, other international partners and industry will ensure the aircraft’s reliability and mission effectiveness against emerging threats for decades to come.”

As part of the Australian Government’s Project SEA 9100 Phase 1 (Improved Embarked Logistics Support Helicopter Capability), the 12 new MH-60R aircraft will create a common fleet of maritime helicopters supporting all of the RAN’s air capable platforms.

“Built upon a decade of partnership with the United States Navy and Lockheed Martin, the MH-60R ‘Romeo’ multi-mission helicopter provides the Royal Australian Navy with an unparalleled maritime aviation platform,” said Rear Adm. Peter Quinn, Head Navy Capability for the Royal Australian Navy. “The versatility of the MH-60R to conduct a wide range of missions combined with the world-class support provided by our partners, was a significant factor in the decision by the RAN to make an additional investment in MH-60R under the SEA 9100 Phase 1 program.”

Lockheed Martin plans to deliver all 12 MH-60R helicopters between mid-2025 and mid-2026. Sikorsky Aircraft Australia Limited in Nowra, New South Wales, currently provides depot level maintenance, supply support and logistics support for Australia’s MH-60R helicopter fleet.

“The additional 12 MH-60R SEAHAWK aircraft is a testament to the Royal Australian Navy’s commitment to providing their service men and women the right aircraft for their mission needs,” said Capt. Todd Evans, US Navy H-60 multi-mission helicopters program manager. “This effort continues the long-standing partnership between the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.”

The RAN was the first international navy to select the MH-60R helicopter, acquiring 24 aircraft from 2013 to 2016. The Fleet Air Arm’s 725 and 816 squadrons based at Nowra have accumulated more than 30,000 flight hours embarked on frigates, destroyers and supply ships.

As the US Navy‘s next generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk is the cornerstone of the US Navy’s Helicopter Concept of Operations. Anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare are the MH-60R’s primary missions. Secondary missions include electromagnetic warfare, search and rescue, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation, and VHF/UHF/link communication relay. The MH-60R and its mission systems have replaced the fleet’s legacy SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft.

Photo by Royal Australian Navy

Australia’s attempt to replace the troubled MRH-90 Taipan helicopter with the UH-60M has taken another step forward after the US government approved the potential Foreign Military Sale on Aug. 25, 2022

Australia’s attempt to replace the troubled MRH-90 Taipan helicopter with the UH-60M has taken another step forward after the US government approved the potential Foreign Military Sale on Aug. 25, 2022.

According to Transmittal No 22-51, ‘the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.95 billion.

Additionally, in Transmittal No. 22-51 the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said that ‘The proposed sale will replace Australia’s current multi-role helicopter fleet with a more reliable and proven system that will allow Australia to maintain the appropriate level of readiness to conduct combined operations. The UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter will improve the Australian Army’s ability to deploy combat power to share Australia’s strategic environment, deter actions against its interests, and, when required, respond with credible force. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.’

As reported by Alert 5, in its justification to buy the UH-60M to replace the MRH-90, former Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said last year that the “performance of the MRH-90 Taipan has been an ongoing and well-documented concern for Defence and there has been a significant effort at great expense to try to remediate those issues.”

The fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, which has been in service with the Australian Army since 2007, is constantly plagued by issues related to maintenance and poor availability of spare parts, although it is considered better than the Black Hawk performance-wise. As reported by The Eurasian Times, the decision to scrap the European-designed helicopter comes about a decade sooner than expected.

The Department of Defense said in 2020 that the Taipans’ doors were too narrow to allow for firing when troops descended from the chopper.

The MRH-90 was first delivered to the Army and Navy in 2004 and hasn’t yet achieved what it promised.

The MRH-90 multi-role helicopter replaced the existing Black Hawk and Sea King helicopter fleets. 46 MRH-90 aircraft have been acquired for the Navy and Army.

The first two aircraft were accepted into service in Brisbane on Dec. 18, 2007.

Since its induction in the Australian Military, the helicopter has been plagued by maintenance troubles. In early 2021, the Australian military’s fleet of 47 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters was grounded due to maintenance and safety issues with the aircraft’s support system.

The fleet was grounded in 2019 as well, due to severe tail rotor vibration and delamination, which necessitated the replacement of tail rotors throughout the fleet.

The Defense Department stated in 2020 that it was spending more than $37 million in Townsville to hire civilian helicopters to retain capability while it dealt with long-standing issues with the MRH-90 Taipans.

Photo by Capt. Brian Harris / U.S. Army and Royal Australian Navy

After an undisclosed number of recent engine fires the US Army has grounded the entirety of its CH-47 Chinook helicopter fleet “out of an abundance of caution.”

After an undisclosed number of recent engine fires, the US Army has grounded the entirety of its CH-47 Chinook helicopter fleet “out of an abundance of caution,” the service confirmed on Aug. 30, 2022.

The news of shutting down the CH-47 helicopters was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. No deaths or injuries occurred due to the fires.

US Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith attributed the issue to fuel leaks in a statement emailed to Army Times. She said that the service has “identified the root cause” of the leaks and “is implementing corrective measures to resolve this issue.”

The leaks were due to faulty aftermarket O-rings that weren’t produced by engine manufacturer Honeywell International, the company told the Army Times.

“In full coordination with the U.S. Army, Honeywell helped discover that O-rings not meeting Honeywell design specifications had been installed in some T55 engines during routine and scheduled maintenance at an Army Depot,” the statement said. “It is believed these suspect O-Rings have been identified and isolated.”

Smith’s statement tried to downplay the scope of the problem, declaring that “some aircraft may not require corrective measures and may soon return to normal flight operations.”

The US Army spokesperson did not specify how many aircraft had caught fire and how many required corrective maintenance. Service officials have identified at least 70 aircraft with the faulty part out of the Army’s approximately 400 Chinooks, the Wall Street Journal reported.

While a joint team of Honeywell and Army engineers identified the engine problem, it’s not clear when they realized they needed to look for it.

An incident where a hovering Chinook had to land and use its fire suppression system to address “a small active fire near the aft portion of the No. 2 engine,” was highlighted in a July aviation safety bulletin published by the service’s Combat Readiness Center.

Smith added that the grounding was meant to “ensure our aircraft remain safe and airworthy.”

The CH-47 Chinook is the US Army’s only heavy-lift cargo helicopter, supporting critical combat and non-combat operations.

The CH-47 supports a full spectrum of operations, including disaster relief, homeland defense and security, and current overseas contingency operations, with a Future Force system design.

The first fully equipped US Army Chinook, designated the CH-47A, entered service in August 1962 with a gross weight of 33,000 pounds (14,969 kilograms).

The current CH-47F is an advanced multimission helicopter with a fully integrated, digital cockpit management system, Common Avionics Architecture Cockpit, and advanced cargo-handling capabilities that complement the aircraft’s mission performance and handling characteristics.

The Army Special Operations Command MH-47G combines many proven Chinook systems and features. Notable among these are fuel tanks providing twice the capacity of the CH-47F and an in-flight refueling system. MH-47Gs are remanufactured on the common MH-47G/CH-47F production line.

Photo by Acroterion Own work via Wikipedia

A sudden storm that blew through Norfolk Naval Station, Va., on Jul. 26, 2022, in the afternoon damaged at least 10 US Navy helicopters

A sudden storm that blew through Norfolk Naval Station, Va., on Jul. 26, 2022, in the afternoon damaged at least 10 US Navy helicopters, USNI News reported.

The storm resulted in 10 Class A ground mishaps—mishaps that resulted in more than $2.5 million in damage or the total loss of the aircraft, according to a service initial assessment reviewed by USNI News.

“The Navy is continuing to assess the full extent of the damages to each airframe, but there are no impacts to operational forces as a result of this incident,” Cmdr. Rob Myers with Naval Air Forces Atlantic told USNI News in a statement. “Known damages to the aircraft span from broken tail and rotor blades to structural dents and punctures in the airframes. No personnel were injured during the storm.”

According to the assessment, the helicopters damaged were five MH-60S Knight Hawks, one MH-60R Sea Hawk, and four MH-53E Sea Dragon mine countermeasure helicopters.

The MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the Navy’s need for long-range minesweeping missions in addition to heavy-lift duties. The service has about 30 of the mine-hunting Sea Dragons in its inventory, according to the most recent data from Naval Air Systems Command. The service has delayed retiring aging helicopters as the Navy has been slow to develop a new airborne mine-hunting platform.

At least four of the multi-million-dollar helicopters—one MH-53E and three MH-60s—were blown over by the wind, according to images of the damage circulating on social media.

On Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a severe thunderstorm alert at 3:30 p.m., with a warning of winds greater than 60 miles per hour. According to the damage assessment, the high winds hit Norfolk’s Chambers Field at 3:42 p.m., 12 minutes after the initial warning.

When given enough warning, aircraft in the path of bad weather are taken into their hangars or tied down. However, the storm came at a time when aviation maintainers were usually in the midst of a shift change. It’s likely that most of the personnel were indoors and would have limited time to bring the aircraft to the hangars.

The Tuesday damage to helicopters is under investigation, Navy officials told USNI News.

Noteworthy, as we have already reported, a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighter assigned to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) aircraft carrier sailing in the Mediterranean Sea blew off the ship’s deck on Jul. 8, 2022. The carrier was conducting a replenishment-at-sea, which was safely terminated through established procedures.

One Sailor received minor injuries while conducting operations during the unexpectedly heavy weather.

Details and the cause of the incident are under investigation.

Photo by USNI News

‘It’s been a long time since I last captured an AW101 Merlin in the Loop and to cap it off, a Royal Netherlands Navy NH90 dropped by to say hello,’ Dafydd Phillips

Filmed by our friend Dafydd Phillips, the cool video in this post features Royal Netherlands Navy NH90 and Royal Navy AW101 Merlin helicopters in the Mach Loop.

‘It’s been a long time since I last captured an AW101 Merlin in the Loop and to cap it off, a Royal Netherlands Navy NH90 dropped by to say hello,’ Phillips says.

The AgustaWestland AW101 is a medium-lift helicopter for military and civil use. First flown in 1987, it was developed by a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the United Kingdom and Agusta in Italy in response to national requirements for a modern naval utility helicopter. Several operators, including the armed forces of Britain, Denmark, and Portugal, use the name Merlin for their AW101 aircraft. It is manufactured at factories in Yeovil, England, and Vergiate, Italy; licensed assembly work has also taken place in Japan and the United States.

The Royal Navy’s AW101 Merlin helicopters are now being used to help protect the UK’s carrier strike capability and the surrounding seas – ensuring the ship and its crew are well protected from enemy submarines, surface ships, aircraft and missiles.

The NHIndustries NH90 is a medium-sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter. It was developed in response to NATO requirements for a battlefield helicopter which would also be capable of being operated in naval environments. The NH90 was developed and is manufactured by NHIndustries, a collaborative company owned by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland) and Fokker Aerostructures. The first prototype conducted its maiden flight in December 1995; the type first entered operational service in 2007. As of June 2022, the NH90 has logged 327,053 flight hours in the armed forces of thirteen countries.

The Royal Netherlands Navy fields the NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) model of the NH-90. The NH90 NFH variant is primarily designed for autonomous Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) missions. The intrinsic characteristics and comprehensive mission equipment packages allow an unequaled range of additional operations: Search and Rescue (SAR), maritime patrol, vertical replenishment, troop transport, medical services, and “Utility” roles.

The helicopter is designed for day & night/adverse weather/severe ship motion environment operations. Due to its weight and dimensions, the deck-lock system, the deck traversing system, and the automatic blade and tail folding system, it can operate from/to small Frigates.

Photo by Dafydd Phillips

The MH-47G Chinook had landed after routine flight operations when the fire began in the rear of the aircraft

A US Army MH-47G Chinook special operations helicopter caught fire in June at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island in Coronado, the service said in a statement on Jun. 28, 2022.

The service declined to specify the model of the helicopter after the accident. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the four soldiers on board when the fire ignited were able to escape the aircraft uninjured. NAS North Island fire crews extinguished the fire.

The helicopter is assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Night Stalkers, which was in San Diego for training.

Col. Roger Waleski, the commander of the 160th SOAR, credited the crew with reacting quickly to the fire.

“We are proud of the quick reaction of our crew, which prevented injury and additional damage. And we are thankful for the assistance from NAS North Island officials and Naval Aviation units who have helped us in our recovery efforts.”

As noted by Alert 5, on Jun. 22, the MH-47G had landed after routine flight operations when the fire began in the rear of the aircraft. The cause of the fire has not been determined and is under investigation.

The MH-47 Chinook helicopter conducts overt and covert infiltration, exfiltration, air assault, resupply, and sling-load operations over a wide range of environmental conditions. The aircraft can perform a variety of other missions, including shipboard, platform, urban, water, parachute, forward arming and refueling point, mass casualty, and combat search and rescue operations. Using special mission equipment and night vision devices, MH-47 aircrews can operate in hostile mission environments over all types of terrain at low altitudes during periods of low visibility and low ambient lighting conditions with pinpoint navigation accuracy.

The MH-47G Chinook is a heavy assault helicopter based on the MH-47E airframe. Maintaining the same basic fuselage, fuel system, power train, engines, and performance standards as the “Echo” model, it has further structural modifications, including a new cockpit with an extended nose and technological enhancements for special operations missions.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Reed Knutson / U.S. Army