Boeing Vertol 107
Boeing Vertol · United States · first flew 1958 · helicopter
A successful American medium tandem-rotor transport, smaller in concept than the later Chinook, identified by its twin fore-and-aft rotors and rear ramp.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Two large overlapping rotors at the front and rear of the fuselage with raised pylons |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two large overlapping rotors at the front and rear of the fuselage with raised pylons
- Boat-shaped upswept rear fuselage with a rear loading ramp
- Lower-side sponsons for fuel and flotation, and no tail rotor
The two large overlapping rotors fore and aft with raised pylons and no tail rotor define it. The boat-shaped hull with rear ramp and side sponsons distinguishes it as the smaller cousin of the Chinook.
Specifications
- The Boeing Vertol 107 has a length of 13.6 m (45 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.24 m (50 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 270 km/h (168 mph).
- Typical crew: 2-3 (pilot, co-pilot, crew chief).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Vertol Model 107 prototype first flew in April 1958, using two counter-rotating rotors at each end of the fuselage to cancel torque without a tail rotor. It matured into the military CH-46 Sea Knight and a widely exported civil model.
Variants
Derivatives include the civil Model 107-II, the US Marine and Navy CH-46 Sea Knight series, Canada's CH-113 Labrador for search and rescue, and the Kawasaki KV107 built under licence in Japan, some with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines.
Where you'll see it
A Marine Corps assault transport from the 1960s to around 2015, with Canadian, Japanese, Swedish and Saudi use. The UK did not operate it; its only British link is the optional Rolls-Royce Gnome engine, and the RAF's tandem-rotor type is the larger Chinook.
Related aircraft
- Boeing CH-113 Labrador
- Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC.1
- Bell 204B
- Kaman UH-43C Huskie
- Saro P.531
- Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard
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