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BHelicopters
At a glance
Measured figures
Chinook HC6A · Length
Single sourceChinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Length · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Boeing Chinook (UK variants) | Harbin Z-21 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Transport helicopter[source] | — |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Defense, Space & Security[source] | Harbin Aircraft Industry Group[source] |
| Designer | Boeing-Vertol[source] | — |
| Status | In service[source] | — |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force[source] | — |
Z-21 · Length
Single source16 m (52 ft 6 in)[source]
Empty; Chinook HC6A · Empty weight
Single sourceGross; Chinook HC6A · Gross weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Chinook HC6A · Max takeoff weight
Single source22,450 lb (10,183 kg)[source]
26,680 lb (12,102 kg)[source]
50,000 lb (22,680 kg)[source]
Empty; Z-21 · Empty weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Z-21 · Max takeoff weight
Single sourceChinook HC6A · pilot, copilot, two weapon system operators/loadmasters
Single source4 (pilot, copilot, two weapon system operators/loadmasters)[source]
2 Pilots, 2 Weapon System Operators[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · AircrewSource text · numeric interpretation needs review
Z-21 · Crew
Single sourceChinook HC6A · with auxiliary fuel tanks
Single source1,200 nmi (1,400 mi, 2,200 km) with auxiliary fuel tanks[source]
Z-21 · Combat range
Single source650 km (400 mi, 350 nmi)[source]
Chinook HC6A · 2 × Honeywell T55-GA-714A turboshaft free-turbine engines, 3,750 shp ( ) each
Single source2 × Honeywell T55-GA-714A turboshaft free-turbine engines, 3,750 shp (2,800 kW) each[source]
Z-21 · 2 × WZ-10 turboshaft engines each
Single source2 × WZ-10 turboshaft engines, 1,790 kW (2,400 hp) each[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Number built | 72 (all RAF models)[source] | — |
|---|
| Introduction date | 22 November 1980 (with RAF)[source] | — |
|---|
| First flight | 23 March 1980 (HC1)[source] | — |
|---|
| Developed from | Boeing CH-47 Chinook[source] | — |
|---|
| Variants | HC1, HC1B, HC2, HC3, HC4, HC5, HC6, HC6A, HC7[source] | — |
|---|
| Capacity | 55 soldiers and up to 10 tonnes of freight or equipment[source] | — |
|---|
| Guns | 2× M134 Miniguns and 1× M60 machine gun[source] 2 x M134 Miniguns, 1 x M60 Machine Gun[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Guns | 1x 30 mm (1.181 in) auto cannon[source] |
|---|
| Main rotor area | 5,655.2 sq ft (525.39 m 2 )[source] | — |
|---|
| Blade section | - root: Boeing VR-7; tip: Boeing VR-8[source] | — |
|---|
| Cockpit Avionics | Glass cockpit with a BAE Systems Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS), includes automatic modes such as auto-hover and auto-descend to ease pilot workload.[source] | — |
|---|
| Sensors | Electro-Optical Sensor Turret (EOST) with two infrared cameras and a low-light TV function .[source] EOST turret including two infrared cameras and a low-light TV function[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Electro optics | — |
|---|
| Defensive Aids | Missile Warning Receiver, Infrared Warning Receiver, Radar Warning Receiver, Counter-measure dispensing system (flares).[source] | — |
|---|
| Country of origin | United States[source]Boeing Chinook (UK variants) · origin explicitly stated in the linked current national-inventory row; no inference from operator or shipyard | China[source]Inventory Origin column; table 12, row 7, cell 4; revision 1373722962; retrieved 2026-10-01 |
|---|
| Powerplant | Two Honeywell 55-L-714A Free-Turbine engines[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Powerplant | — |
|---|
| Reported engine rating | 4,168shp each[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · ThrustSource text · numeric interpretation needs review | — |
|---|
| Flight altitude | 15,000ft[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Maximum altitude | — |
|---|
| Hardpoints | — | 6 hardpoints on two stub wings , with provisions to carry combinations of:[source] |
|---|
| Rockets | — | Various rocket pods[source] |
|---|
| Missiles | — | AKD-9 laser-guided air-to-surface missile AKD-10 laser-guided air-to-surface missile CM-502KG or CM-502V NLOS air-to-surface missile CM-501G A NLOS air-to-surface missile CM-501XA loitering munition TY-90 air-to-air missile[source] |
|---|
| Other | — | 500kg drop tank[source] |
|---|