David M. Densford, Chinook pilot with 4,000 flt hrs and 24 years in the CH-47 models A thru F, lists 14 amazing facts on this legendary helicopter.

In 1960, Boeing bought Vertol Aircraft Co., a helicopter manufacturer in Philadelphia, Pa. The company had three tandem-rotor helicopters under production: the Chinook for the U.S. Army, the Sea Knight for the U.S. Navy and Marines, and the commercial 107-11 for the airlines.

Vertol had started out as the P-V Engineering Forum, owned by Frank Piasecki, which established the “banana shaped” two-rotor helicopter in 1945. Piasecki left the corporation in 1955, and it was renamed Vertol the following year.

The first in the long line of Chinooks was the YHC-1B tandem-rotor transport helicopter that rolled out in 1961. It was designed to serve the U.S. Army and Air Force as a medium-lift helicopter and evolved into several versions.

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

Chinooks were first used in combat in 1965 during the Vietnam conflict. During the last days of the w4r, one Chinook is reported to have carried 147 refugees in a single lift.

But this was not the only amazing fact on the iconic CH-47.

David M. Densford, Chinook pilot with 4,000 flt hrs and 24 years in the CH-47 models A thru F, lists 14 amazing facts on this legendary helicopter on Quora.

‘1. Originally the A-model fuel system consisted of 550 gallons of Jet A split between 2 main tanks bolted to the side without a self-sealing internal rubber bladder. When we dropped the tanks for airframe inspections we had to put a LOT of goop around the edges when we reinstalled them and then pressure test them for leaks. Lord God Almighty they made a mess if any of the mount bolts failed during the pressure test.