Boeing's CH-47 Chinook helicopter, the Egyptian version.

The Egyptian CH-47 Chinook

Originally manufactured as model BV-219 Chinooks by Augusta in Italy, these year 2000 photographs show the Iran/Egypt C model equivalents sporting metal rotor blades, a desert sand paint scheme, and a less than ideal state of repair.

Note the Engine Air Particle Separator (EAPS) installed on the helicopter pictured above.

Note the square devices around the landing gear. These are rodent boots designed to prevent rats are other creatures from climbing up into the aircraft. Rodents tend to chew on the electrical wiring wreaking havoc with the various aircraft systems.

The Chinooks shown above were manufactured by Elicopteri Meridionali, in Frosinone, Italy. Originally destined for the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF), they were never delivered as a result of the fall of the Shah of Iran in 1979. The Egyptian Air Force purchased 15 of these helicopters and placed them into service with their Air Force in 1981. Elicopteri Meridionali was a part of the Agusta group, which eventually solely used the name Agusta. Under the terms of their licensing arrangement with Boeing, Agusta was to sell CH-47C helicopters in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East, so they supplied Chinooks to Egypt, Greece, Libya and Morocco. The first batch of 20 CH-47C's Augusta produced were destined for Iran. However, what became of those initial aircraft was uncertain because, after the fall of the Shah of Iran, the Iranian government was in a state of turmoil and communication with knowledgeable people inside the country was all but lost and remained so for many years afterward.

Pictured to the right are the C models purchased by Egypt, when they were new.

Patch created to commerate the delivery of the Egyptian Chinooks by U.S. Army aircrews in 1981.

When the government of Egypt purchased the Iranian Chinooks it had no qualified pilots to operate their new helicopters. The U.S. Army was engaged to fly the Chinooks from the factory in Italy to their new home in Egypt. Air Crews from units stationed in Germany were called upon to participate in the adventure. Units in Europe at the time were the 180th Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Big Windy", 295th ASHC - "Cyclones", and 205th ASHC - "Geronimos".

Geronimo Participants

CPT Harold S. Barrett	CW3 James E. Coleman	SSG Robert Davis
CPT Gary S. Mulrooney	CW3 Jimmie Husband	SGT Jack G. England
CPT Michael P. Breithaupt	CW2 Randall D. Sizemore	SP4 Craig M. Brayer
CW3 William Atkinson	SFC Armando Valdez	SP4 Michael K. Hotsenpiller
CW3 Stephan J. Weissenberger	SSG William J. Walter	SP4 Joe B. Deathrage

Egypt buys upgraded Chinook helicopters

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama, (Army News Service, 20 February 1998) -- The Security Assistance Management Directorate (SAMD) is breaking new ground in the first sale to Egypt of four CH-47D Chinook helicopters through the Army foreign military sales program.

"The Egyptians are thrilled about getting these 'D' model cargo helicopters," Dave Richardson, Egypt CH-47 FMS case manager in SAMD, said. "Congress has approved the sale. The letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) went to Egypt for review, specifying the price, terms, conditions and details of the package. It was signed on 23 January. The next step is for the U.S. Army to work with Boeing and negotiate the final contract."

Richardson began work on this case in March 1997. He developed the LOA while trying to pack boxes in his SAMD St. Louis office and continued the work here at AMCOM in Huntsville.

Richardson developed the letter of offer and acceptance for a total support package, which includes concurrent spare parts, training, and ground support equipment and avionics equipment. He continues to work with Dale Miller, Boeing marketing representative, to place the requirement on contract.

He's also coordinating with the AMCOM Acquisition Center and the CH-47 Project Manager, on the statement of work package, an outline on what will be done on the contract. The plan calls for Egypt to provide its own engines for these aircraft, and Boeing to install them and furnish OCONUS pilot training.

Egypt received its first 15 Chinooks in 1981, according to Dan Hatcher, product support, Boeing Information, Space & Defense Systems. The aircraft were CH-47C models, made under license by Agusta in Italy. For the last eight years, Boeing has been encouraging Egypt to upgrade its fleet to 'D' models, since the 'C' models are out-of-date now to the U.S. Army.

"If the 'C' models are upgraded, they would have an aircraft equal to the U.S. Army, and we could provide them Army support," Johnny McMullen, chief of the SAMD general aviation branch, said. "Egypt is considering upgrading 10 of their 'C' models to the 'D' configuration."

The CH-47D's primary mission is moving artillery, ammunition, personnel, equipment, supplies, barrier material, and fuel on the battlefield. In civil service, the CH-47D can perform rescue, aeromedical, and parachuting missions in times of national emergency. The CH-47D can fly day or night in almost any weather.

"You do not have to have a war to get good use out of the Chinook," Richardson said.

Egyptian Chinooks and CW4 Harry Champagne, circa 2000.

Who is that guy behind those Foster Grants?

CW4 Harry Champagne, pictured above, was instrumental in the delivery of four CH-47D Chinook to the Egyptian government in 2000. Mr. Champagne was assigned to Corpus Christi Army Depot, Corpus Christi, Texas at the time. He served with the United States Army at the repair facility conducting test flights on the Chinook prior to their delivery to various units around the world. In 2001, he retired from the U.S. Army and began employment as a Department of the Army Civilian (DAC), still piloting the mighty Chinook helicopter.

Below, one of the Egyptian CH-47D Chinooks, circa 2000. Notice the triple hook configuration, the Engine Air Particle System (EAPS) to keep the sand out of the engines, the ARC-199 high frequency radio antennna, a radar radome on the nose (the aircraft sported color weather radar), and fiberglass rotor blades:

Egypt Upgrades Chinook Fleet

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, 22 July 2002 -- The air force that defends one of the world's oldest civilizations soon will be adding some of the most advanced Boeing transport helicopters to its fleet.

Boeing is modernizing six CH-47C Egyptian Air Force Chinooks to the U.S. Army CH-47D standard. The first delivery is planned by the end of 2002, followed by five deliveries in 2003.

Boeing will complete contract negotiations for modernization of six more Egyptian Chinooks by the end of 2002. This will enable completion of two additional D-model upgrades in 2003, followed by four more in 2004. These modernized Chinooks will join four newly built CH-47Ds delivered to Egypt in 2000.

Egypt originally purchased 15 Augusta built CH-47C Chinooks in 1980. Three CH-47Cs remain in the Egyptian fleet and will not be modernized. These aircraft may eventually be converted into maintenance trainers.

"Modernization of the Egyptian Air Force Chinooks means that nearly the entire worldwide CH-47 inventory will be D-models or later configuration," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager, Boeing Army Programs and Rotorcraft. "The fact that nearly all our customers have upgraded their Chinook fleets demonstrates clearly the high value they place on the CH-47's operational capabilities across the military and civil mission spectrum."

Boeing Army Programs and Rotorcraft is a business unit of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and produces and develops military rotorcraft, including the CH-47 Chinook, V-22 Osprey and the RAH-66 Comanche for the U.S. Armed Forces and allied military services around the world.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, or IDS, is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $23 billion business. It provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.

Newly converted D models make their way to Egypt: