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CH-47F Chinook arrives at
Gilze Rijen
D-892 on off the new CH-47F models of 298
squadron
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Old en new
models on the 301 Platform.
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A very weathered D model.
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With the CH-47 Chinooks of 298 squadron operating from the 301 squadron due to
a reunion later this week it gave the opportunity from some early
morning shots.
Gilze Rijen is home to 300 Squadron
flying the Cougars and Alouette III, Along with 298 Squadron flying the
CH-47 Chinook and 301 Squadron flying the AH-46 Apaches they are the
biggest part of the Defence Helicopter Command.
CH-47 Chinook.
The Netherlands signed an agreement with the Canadian government early
in 1993 to acquire 7 Boeing CH 147 Chinooks that were no longer being
used by the Canadian Armed Forces. In December 1993, the number of
Chinooks was set at 13 (7 used (serial D-661 to D-667). and 6 new
(serials D-101 to D-106)).
With the second-hand Chinooks being modernised to the same standard as
the one's being purchased new. Boeing delivered the modernised Chinooks
to the Royal Netherlands Air Force between August 1995 and February
1996. The 6 new Chinooks were delivered in 1998. They have a modern
'glass cockpit' with digital read-outs instead of traditional dials and
meters
CH-47 line-up at 301 platform with
the CH-47F models in the new grey colour scheme.
Eleven CH-47D Chinooks out of 13 delivered still remain in Dutch service
and the strain is starting to show on these rotary wing assets, two
where written off in 2005 (serials D-105 and D-106). The seven
ex-Canadian CH-147s in particular are increasingly showing signs of
fatigue. A procurement process is currently running to acquire 6 new
CH-47F Chinooks (serials D-890 to D-895). That is partly to replace the
two Chinooks that were lost and partly to meet the major requirement for
heavy transport helicopters. The new CH-47F Chinooks have been
delivered, three will go to Gilze Rijen and the other three to the Joint
Netherlands Training Detachment at Fort Hood Texas.
Concurrently, the Joint Netherlands Training Detachment at Fort Hood in
the United States also received its CH-47F Chinooks. The the Joint
Netherlands Training Detachment already operated eight Dutch AH-64Ds and
will get three CH-47F Chinooks, the last of which arrived directly from
Boeing in the beginning of this year.
Former Dutch defence minister Hans
Hillen has informed Dutch parliament that he has ordered the Dutch MoD
to initiate a possible buy of eleven additional new-built CH-47F
Chinooks in order to ensure the long term viability of the Dutch medium
transport helicopter fleet. This would effectively put an end to the
planned modification of the current eleven remaining CH-47D Chinook
airframes to CH-47F Chinook standard.
A AH-64D off 301 squadron ready for
take off.
This mid-life update programme was to
start from 2016 and would allow the Dutch MTH fleet to stay in service
until 2035. The acquisition of new Chinooks is considered to be a more
cost efficient solution as it would provide the Dutch armed forces with
an extended service life of its Chinook fleet until 2045. Ambition
levels concerning the number of possible overseas operations for which
MTH support needs to be be available will not have to be altered during
the process. This will be achieved because the current CH-47D Chinook
fleet will be retained to support ongoing operations during the phase-in
of the new aircraft. The remaining Delta-models will be disposed of once
all CH-47F Chinooks have been delivered. At the moment a final
decision has not been made on this topic.
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