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At a glance
Measured figures
Chinook HC6A · Length
Single sourceChinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Length · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Boeing Chinook (UK variants) | McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Transport helicopter[source] | Light multi-role military helicopter[source] |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Defense, Space & Security[source] | Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD Helicopters[source] |
| Designer | Boeing-Vertol[source] | — |
| Status | In service[source] | In service[source] |
500M · rotors running
Single source30 ft 9.5 in (9.385 m) rotors running[source]
Chinook HC6A · 2 ×
Single sourceChinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Rotor diameter · Rotor
Single source2 × 60 ft 0 in (18.29 m)[source]
18.29m[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Rotor
500M · Main rotor diameter
Single source26 ft 4.75 in (8.0455 m)[source]
Chinook HC6A · Height
Single sourceChinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Height · Height
Single source18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)[source]
5.77m[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Height
500M · to top of rotor hub
Single source8 ft 8.5 in (2.654 m) to top of rotor hub[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; 500M · Empty weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; 500M · normal MTOW
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
500M · Crew
Single sourceMaximum; Chinook HC6A · Maximum speed
Single sourceMaximum; Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Maximum speed · Maximum speed
Single source160 kn (180 mph, 300 km/h)[source]
160kt[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Maximum speed
Cruise; 500M · at sea level
Single sourceMaximum; 500M · at 1,000 ft (300 m)
Single sourceChinook 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]
500M · 1 × Allison Model 250-C20B turboshaft engine, 420 shp (
Single source1 × Allison Model 250-C20B turboshaft engine, 420 shp (310 kW)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Primary user | Royal Air Force[source] | — |
|---|
| Number built | 72 (all RAF models)[source] | 471[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | 22 November 1980 (with RAF)[source] | — |
|---|
| First flight | 23 March 1980 (HC1)[source] | 1976[source] |
|---|
| Developed from | Boeing CH-47 Chinook[source] | Hughes OH-6 Cayuse MD Helicopters MD 500[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 | — |
|---|
| 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 | — |
|---|
| 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 | — |
|---|
| National origin | — | United States[source] |
|---|
| Primary users | — | Republic of Korea Army Iraqi Air Force Israeli Air Force Philippine Air Force[source] |
|---|
| Manufactured | — | 1976–present[source] |
|---|
| Hover ceiling IGE | — | 8,200 ft (2,500 m)[source] |
|---|
| Hover ceiling OGE | — | 5,300 ft (1,600 m)[source] |
|---|