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Refitted Chinooks to be unveiled
13 Jan 2010The first of eight Chinook MK3 helicopters are to be unveiled today after being refitted having stood idle for more than eight years because of a blunder.
The two helicopters are the first of eight to be refitted by Boeing at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, to increase air support for the front line in Afghanistan.
The MK3 Chinooks were originally purchased at a cost of £259 million and fitted for special forces operations but were never used because the avionics software was unable to meet airworthiness regulations.
The helicopters were delivered by Boeing, which had met its contractual obligations, to the MoD in December 2001.
In 2004, the Committee of Public Accounts described the original procurement of the Chinook Mk3 Helicopter as "one of the worst examples of equipment procurement" it had seen.
The conversion involved refitting the cockpit to meet the airworthiness regulations and to enable the aircraft, which were originally purchased in 1995, to be used in battlefield support for the first time.
The aircraft also benefit from extended range fuel tanks, more powerful engines enabling them to lift heavier weights, and more efficient engines allowing them to travel further distances.
The aircraft are to be shown off by Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth and the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies at RAF Odiham, Hampshire.
Last month, Mr Ainsworth announced a programme of investment in defence helicopters.
This included increasing the Chinook fleet from 48 to 70, including the eight conversions, with the first 10 new aircraft coming into service in 2013.
Reader views (4)
- "In 2004, the Committee of Public Accounts described the original procurement of the Chinook Mk3 Helicopter as "one of the worst examples of equipment procurement" it had seen."
And yet how many of those involved in the bungled and amateurish procurement process have since been sacked?
Not a single one I'll bet.
Still, nice to see them finally in service. Fifteen years after they were first purchased.
- John T, London, 13/01/2010 19:43
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This whole sorry affair is simply typical of what happens when amateurs are put in charge of major governmental ministries.
Professionals find themselves led by donkeys and chaos rules.
- George, Cambridge, 13/01/2010 13:37
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The Chinook has an outdated airframe by modern standards and although still a very good helicopter for certain uses I would have thought after the tradgedy of the Paras in a minefield incident lessons would have been learned. A section paras strayed into a minefield and casualties needed to be evacuated and requested a light helicopter for extraction. A chinook was sent which due to its huge down draft caused more mines to explode and more men injured. It wasn't until a US blackhawk was sent were the men extracted safely.
Yes more chinooks, but how about some blackhawks, hueys or loach type helicopters which are faster and more lightweight. The Americans have hundreds of them in storage in the desert in Arizona which could be leased or bought far cheaper than the ageing Chinook.
Regards the eight which were originaly bought as special forces aircraft, if the government had not been so stubborn and tight with money they would have been supplied with correct avionics package in the first place.
- Lance Johnson, Canterbury, Kent, 13/01/2010 12:49
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Mr.Ainsworth should be proud of himself. Delivering much needed helicopters to the font line. Shame they have now cost so much that there will be no money left for other vital equipment and the helicopters themselves are now 20yrs out of date. Nulabour management, try half-heartedly and then spend your way out of the ensuing problems....
- Mark, London, 13/01/2010 11:49
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