89-00170

(89-0170)

 

 

 

 

 

 

In an undated photograph, U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter 89-00170 comes in to land at a remote landing zone in Afghanistan in order to resupply U.S. Special Operations forces. Chinooks were used extenisvely in Afghanistan due to their ability to carry large numbers of troops and supplies to all parts of the country, including the mountanous regions. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

89-00170, Boeing D model kit number M3324, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 27 September 1990. As of 28 September 2001, 89-00170 had accumulated 1,583.4 D model hours and 5,063.4 total aircraft hours.    89-00170 was a conversion from the original C model Chinook 67-18503.    On 3 October 1989, 89-00170 was inducted into the D model program, conversion complete on 27 August 1990, and was initially assigned to the unit that would eventually become B Company - "Sugar Bears North", 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment, located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.    Fort Wainwright was the former historic Ladd Field of World War Two era fame.    B Company was the former C Company, 228th Aviation Regiment (16 October 1987 - 24 June 1994).    C Company was the former 242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Muleskinners" (located in Alaska from November 1971 through 16 October 1987).    When United States involvement in the Vietnam conflict ended, 242nd ASHC was relocated from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) to Alaska. The aviation unit in Alaska at the time was designated the 236th ASHC, 19th Aviation Battalion (April 1971 - November 1971). When the 242nd ASHC relocated to Alaska and reformed, the unit name changed from "Muleskinners" to "Sugar Bears" and the unit designation went from the 236th ASHC to the 242nd ASHC.    At some point, the unit was split into two companies. One company remained in Alaska and became known as "Sugar Bears North". The other company, C Company, 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, was relocated to Fort Kobbe, Panama and became known as "Sugar Bears South".    At some point, 89-00170 deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The tail numbers of the unit aircraft that deployed from Alaska to Iraq were repainted in yellow to denote their involvement in Desert Storm. It is beleived there were eight total aircraft deployed.    At some point, 89-00170 was deployed to Afghanistan in support of operations during the Global War on Terrorism.    In late 2008, 89-00170 was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington, to undergo RESET - a program designed to restore the aircraft to a pre-deployment status and repair most deficiencies incurred as a result of theater operations.    As of 18 December 2008, this aircraft was 40.7 years old.    As of 18 December 2008, the last known location of 89-00170 was Fort Lewis, Washington, assigned to B Company, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.    Aircraft status: Flyable.

 

 

December 2008: 89-00170 nearing RESET completion by Lear-Seigler Incorporated (LSI) at Fort Lewis, Washington. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

17 December 2008: 89-00170 gets a snow bath as the owning unit - the "Sugar Bears", attempt to complete the acceptance test flight so they can take it home to Alaska. In the background "Flipper" aircraft 86-01646, which arrived at Fort Lewis on 15 December 2008 for RESET and transfer to Alaska, can be seen enjoying the fresh snowfall. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

This aircraft was piloted by:

 

CIV Alex Bromen, Maintenance Test Pilot, 2008

 

CW4/CIV Mark S. Morgan, PC/MTP/ME/CFI-II, 2000 - 2003 / 2008

 

Your Name Here.

 

 

This aircraft was crewed by:

 

SSG Lance Johnson, Flight Engineer, 2000 - 2002

 

SPC Lance Johnson, Crew Chief, 1999

 

SPC Jason Burdeaux, Crew Chief, 2009

 

CIV Mike Hudgson, Flight Engineer, 2008

 

CIV Darryl Miyaji, Aerial Observer, 2008

 

Your Name Here.

 

 

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