Boeing's CH-47F Starts Operational Testing

Boeing's first production CH-47F Chinook has entered operational testing with the U.S. Army, having passed acceptance and developmental flight-testing in December 2006. The operational testing, slated to end in April, includes more than 60 flight test hours that simulate a wide range of mission scenarios. The Army is scheduled to field the CH-47F in July 2007. The test aircraft is the first of 452 CH-47Fs in the U.S. Army Cargo Helicopter modernization program. In a related development, Boeing has sold six new-build CH-47Fs to the Netherlands. The deal is a direct commercial sales agreement with the Netherlands’ defense materiel organization of the Dutch Ministry of Defense for six new-build CH-47F (NL) Chinook helicopters. The agreement covers non-recurring development, production, and post-delivery aircraft support. The aircraft are to be delivered between July 2009 and January 2010. For related news