RAF Chinook HC3

[marktigger]

does anyone Know what has happened to the RAF's Chinook HC3's they never entered service and last I heard they were going to be sold to the US Army?

[ShadowNeo]

Im not sure whats happening to them right now, but this parliament information dated Nov 2003 seems to indicate that the US DoD did not follow through with the purchase:



Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the total value of contracts in relation to the order for Chinook HC3 helicopters is; [137223]


13 Nov 2003 : Column 432W



(2) on what date is it intended that the Chinook HC3 helicopters ordered by the RAF will be delivered to a squadron to undertake their envisaged duties; [137222]
(3) pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2003, Official Report, column 37W, on Chinook helicopters, what reasons have been given to his Department by the US Department of Defense for its decision not to purchase the Chinook HC3 helicopters ordered by the RAF; whether the Chinook HC3 helicopters delivered to the United Kingdom have since been made airworthy; whether the Chinook HC3 helicopter retained by Boeing Helicopters at Philadelphia has been delivered to the United Kingdom; where the Chinook HC3 helicopters ordered for the RAF were stored prior to their shipment to the United Kingdom; what assessment was made of the conditions in which they were stored; what assessment was made of the condition of each of the helicopters following this storage; what his plans are for disposal of the fleet; what specific role the Chinook HC3 helicopter was intended to fulfil when the original order was placed with Boeing in October 1995; whether other helicopters have been evaluated for this role since then; and if he will make a statement. [137295]



Full information at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/cm031113/text/31113w10.htm

I would guess that they will hold onto them incase the US changes its mind though, im not sure of any other viable way of disposing of them.

[martinexsquaddie]

apprantly one was damaged in transit and the others now an instructional airframe?
wtf?

[marktigger]

it slipped whilst being towed of the ship that brought it across the atlantic. the tow seperated and as beoing had helpfully covered the brakes in protective grease slid down the ramp and was only prevented from going into southampton harbour by the intervention of a dockside crane. the Damage was repeired.
The helecoptors were sent to boscombe down for trials but mysteriously never gained release for service. The US army were looking for additional MH47's which is what an HC3 effectivley is but it appears they don't want them either. so another piece of procurment excellence.

[DeltaWhisky58]

I'm afraid I can't lay my hands on the exact article in Air Forces monthly - but I read late last year that the palnned delivery of the HC.3s to the RAF was diverted to the US Army becuase of a shortage of MH-47s there - presumably pre-Op. Irai Freedom - and it was agreed that the RAF would then get later production models this year.

Whether this deal has since been turned about - bo-one seems to know. A lot of the SF Chinook training is done up here in Scotland, and although we see/hear plenty Wokkas clattering about at all hours of the day and night, they've all been HC.2s so far.

[Royal]

I'm afraid I can't lay my hands on the exact article in Air Forces monthly - but I read late last year that the palnned delivery of the HC.3s to the RAF was diverted to the US Army becuase of a shortage of MH-47s there - presumably pre-Op. Irai Freedom - and it was agreed that the RAF would then get later production models this year.

I heard the same thing at Odiham. There is also a lot of bad blood betweeb the RAF jocks and Boeing over the Mull crash (despite what the BOE reported, it's not settled yet) and the a/c that pulled itself apart on a Boeing testbed in the states.