Marine Corps Chinooks?

[Slater]

Don't know that much about helicopters but it would seem that Marinizing the CH-47 would be more expensive that what it's worth:

"On Dec. 18, Bloomberg reported that Pentagon officials are considering reducing the number of Marine Corps CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters and replacing them with modified Army CH-47F Chinook medium-lift helicopters."

https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/...s-a-poor-idea/

[chuckman]

The good idea fairy strikes again. The K has a payload capacity of 35,000 lbs; the Chinook F, 22,000 lbs.

It is true the K has had issues getting off the ground (figuratively) and some growing pains, but for the Marines it is the superior aircraft. The CH-53 is an excellent platform. It is a worthy fight to keep it vice getting CH-47s.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

CH46ish?

[Slater]

CH46ish?

Sort of, only bigger.

[just a scout]

The good idea fairy strikes again. The K has a payload capacity of 35,000 lbs; the Chinook F, 22,000 lbs.

It is true the K has had issues getting off the ground (figuratively) and some growing pains, but for the Marines it is the superior aircraft. The CH-53 is an excellent platform. It is a worthy fight to keep it vice getting CH-47s.

The biggest issue with the K is the price. $135 mil per bird. The 47 can be had MOTS in a navalised version. It’s what the Australians and New Zealand use. And I think UK.


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[chuckman]

The biggest issue with the K is the price. $135 mil per bird. The 47 can be had MOTS in a navalised version. It’s what the Australians and New Zealand use. And I think UK.


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Yeah, not too hard to "navalize" it. The issue will be the payload. They are phasing out the -46s, which have same capacity as the -47. I will surprised if they drop the K variant completely.

[mack7.62]

Other than the price I think the problem with the 53K is it holds too many eggs, combat loss and you lose all your eggs, distribute the eggs between two 47's and combat loss of one you only lose half your eggs. Plus there is the fact that:

Boeing CH-47F Chinook

Current Price $ 25.1 million to - $ 32 million U.S.

[Lawnchair 04]

We are limited to carrying 24 pax to avoid combat loss. Need CO authority to pack the plane full. That’s for the 53E. Currently the 53E is also limited to 21-22k external load capacity (speaking real world not book numbers), and that’s early morning lifts and stripping the aircraft of unneeded weight ie auxiliary fuel tanks. I love the big iron and can’t wait to turn wrenches on the new king but I can’t for the life of me figure out what we have that needs to be externally carry that weighs 35k. As for the 47, it’s a great aircraft I’m sure but no thanks, not a fan of tandem main rotors. Didn’t like the phrog much either but it did fill a role for us.

[chuckman]

We are limited to carrying 24 pax to avoid combat loss. Need CO authority to pack the plane full. That’s for the 53E. Currently the 53E is also limited to 21-22k external load capacity (speaking real world not book numbers), and that’s early morning lifts and stripping the aircraft of unneeded weight ie auxiliary fuel tanks. I love the big iron and can’t wait to turn wrenches on the new king but I can’t for the life of me figure out what we have that needs to be externally carry that weighs 35k. As for the 47, it’s a great aircraft I’m sure but no thanks, not a fan of tandem main rotors. Didn’t like the phrog much either but it did fill a role for us.

Thanks for the input. I love our SMEs. I only flew in them, didn't fly them, so my perspective is different. I preferred the -53, especially after a hard landing in a phrog.

[Slater]

Aren't the 53E's getting pretty worn out by now?