Military
Boeing CH-47 Chinook (RAF HC6)
Boeing: tandem rotor design, each rotor 60 ft (18.3 m). RAF: rotor 18.29 m, length 30.14 m.
Hero image: Sarah Ward / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Boeing: tandem rotor design, each rotor 60 ft (18.3 m). RAF: rotor 18.29 m, length 30.14 m.
At a glance
- Maker
- Boeing
- Country
- USA
- Entered service
- RAF page: order for 33 Chinook HC.Mk 1 in 1978, No. 18 Squadron reformed 1981; 14 HC.Mk 6 (CH-47F based) received 2015
- Engines
- RAF: two Honeywell T55-L-714 free-turbine, 4,168 shp each (page wording '55-L-714A'). Boeing page (CH-47F Block II): two T55-GA-714A, 4,777 shp each - the two sources differ
- Seats
- RAF: up to 55 troops or 10 tonnes cargo; aircrew 2 pilots + 2 weapon system operators
- Cruise speed
- RAF: maximum speed 160 kt. Boeing: cruise 157 KTAS (291 km/h)
- EASA type certificate
- not applicable (military type)
- In London
- RAF page: troop transport, resupply, casualty evacuation; heavy lift held at readiness to respond to emergencies in the UK. No London-specific statement
Check first
Figures come from the manufacturer's own page and the EASA type certificate data sheet read on 3 November 2026. Variants differ; check the exact model.
Official links
- Manufacturer page raf.mod.uk
Sources and checks
Facts on this page come from these sources, last checked 2026-11-03. Where a source could not be reached or did not say, we left the fact out.
- raf.mod.uk raf.mod.uk
- boeing.com boeing.com