|
|
| |
|
Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight
The CH-46 is to the United States Marine Corps what the CH-47 is to the United States Army.
By Staff Writer
The CH-46 Sea Knight is similar in design and role to the CH-47 Chinook series of transport helicopters. Both offer up unobstructed access to the aircraft by keeping engine components mounted above the design. Both also utilize the patented tandem three-blade rotor design that is most closely associated with the Chinook. Despite these similarities, the Chinook is the larger of the two designs and is the primary workhorse for the US Army whereas the Sea Knight serves the US Marine Corps and, to a degree, the United States Navy.
The CH-46 utilizes two Lycoming turboshaft engines to drive the powerful main rotor blades. Crew accommodations amount to two or three standard personnel with spacing in the cabin for an additional 15-25 troops and 15 stretcher patients. The Sea Knight, like its Chinook counterpart, can also carry external sling loads if need be.
The CH-46 was designed from the Model 107 which was actually evaluated by the US Army through three YCH-1A designated prototypes. Though the Army elected to take the larger C-47, which would become the Chinook, the US Marine Corps accepted their CH-46's as the Sea Knight in 1961 to replace their aging UH-34 series. By 1964, deliveries were in full swing and the CH-46 entered service. Along with USMC use, the US Navy also procured several Sea Knights for sea-borne ship replenishment duty.
The CH-47 saw several variants derived from initial models and service experience, each differing in avionics upgrades, subtle redesigns and powerplant changes. Canada accepted the CH-46 as the "Voyageur" and the "Labrador" to fill roles in search and rescue and transport respectively. Additionally, the CH-46 has appeared with Japanese forces as the KV 107 model series in various roles and with Sweden as the HKP-4 series.
Text ©2003-2009 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved •
No Reproduction Without Permission • Corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com
Last Revision: 9/8/2009
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Specifications for the Boeing CH-46E Sea Knight |
 Dimensions: |
Length: 44.82ft (13.66m)
Width:0.00ft (0.00m)
Height: 16.70ft (5.09m)
|
| Performance: |
About MACH |
Max Speed: 166mph (267kmh; 144kts)
Max Range: 690miles (1,110km)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,715ft/min (523m/min)
Service Ceiling: 9,498ft (2,895m; 1.8miles)
|
|
| Structure: |
Accommodation: 3 + 25
Hardpoints: 0
Empty Weight: 11,585lbs (5,255kg)
MTOW: 24,299lbs (11,022kg)
|
| Powerplant: |
| Engine(s): 2 x General Electric T58-GE-16 turboshaft engines generating 1,870shp and driving two 3-blade rotor systems. |
|
| Armament Suite: |
|
None.
|
|
|
| Pictures of the Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight |
|
| Special Aircraft Collections |
|
|
| Recent Military Aircraft Additions |
|
| Contacting MilitaryFactory.com |
| We can only get better if you tell us how. You can contact MilitaryFactory.com at MilitaryFactory at gmail dot com (replace "at" with "@" and "dot with ".") with any questions, comments or corrections. We also accept related military imagery that you approve for us to use on our website. Keep in mind, however, that due to volume, we may not directly respond to your inquiry. Please add us to your list of non-blocked recipients! |
|
|
Aircraft Quick Profile |
Image courtesy of the United States Department of Defense.
|
 |
 |
| 1964 |
Designation: Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight
Classification Type: Medium Lift Multirole Transport Helicopter
Contractor: Boeing - USA
Country of Origin: United States
Production Total: Not Available |
|
|
Operators: Canada, Japan, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America.
|
|
|
|
| Variants |
Model 107 - Vertol Prototype Model; fitted with 2 x Lycoming T53 turboshaft engines.
YCH-1A - US Army Prototype Evaluation Model designation of which three were produced.
HRB-1 - Initial Production Designation for US Marine Corps, later redesignated to CH-46 after 1962.
CH-46A - Initial Production Designation from HRB-1 after 1962; 107 produced for US Marine Corps usage; fitted with General Electric T58-GE-8 turboshaft engines.
UH-46A - Similar to the CH-46A but for US Navy use; 14 such delivered.
CH-46D - USMC model fitted with T-58-GE-10 powerplants.
UH-46D - US Navy model similar to CH-46D USMC model.
CH-46E - Upgraded CH-46D and CH-46F models; fitted with T58-GE-16 powerplants; improved crew survivability features.
CH-46F - Improved avionics
CH-113 "Labrador" - Canadian CH-46A search and rescue models.
CH-113A "Voyageur" - Canadian CH-46A transport models.
HKP-4 - Swedish variant fitted with Rolls-Royce powerplants.
KV 107 - Japan license-produced Model 107 series of various role types.
|
|
|
