CH-47J Chinook
Kawasaki / Boeing · United States · first flew 1961 · helicopter
The CH-47J is the Japanese license-built version of Boeing's tandem-rotor Chinook, used for heavy transport by both self-defense services.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, tail-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Long tube fuselage with rear ramp |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tandem twin-rotor heavy-lifter
- Long tube fuselage with rear ramp
- Engines flanking the aft rotor pylon
Unmistakable for its long boxy fuselage with a large rotor pylon at each end, no tail rotor, and engines mounted either side of the rear pylon.
Specifications
- The CH-47J Chinook has a length of 30.1 m (99 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.29 m (60 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 300 km/h (186 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Boeing's Chinook first flew in 1961 and has been in continuous production ever since. Kawasaki began assembling the CH-47J in Japan in the late 1980s to meet domestic airlift needs.
Variants
Japanese production covers the CH-47J and the extended-range CH-47JA with larger fuel tanks and improved avionics. Both retain the classic tandem-rotor layout with a rear loading ramp.
Where you'll see it
The type serves the Japan Ground and Air Self-Defense Forces; the same basic helicopter is a mainstay of the RAF as the Chinook HC-series, heavily used in Afghanistan and beyond.
Related aircraft
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