Can a Chinook airlift a B-29 in pieces?

[Richard Gozinya]

so, did they ever get it out?

There is SOME legend involved in all stories. I happen to believe this one. Out of nowhere, they had this HIND at Rucker and all of the sudden one day, it was flying around post. Some of the guys at the test activity were doing this. No one would ever talk officially how it was obtained.

The sh1thook guys made their point and have been backing it up for many years in the "overseas contingency operations". Brass balls I will say!

Dick

 

[stearmann4]

Not sure of your plan was to try to get a Guard/reserve CH-47 to sling the 29' out, but the Columbia BV-234s (civilian Chinook) can sling substantially more than a weighed down military ship. The caveat is they have the capability to only carry minimum fuel, so a fuel stop would still be your logistic issue.

If it's not some aerodynamically-challenged piece, you can count on an average of 70 kts, less if it starts oscilating as was described earlier. If the load starts swingiong, you stand the real risk of the crew promptly jettisoning it to save the helicopter.

If you're looking at heavy-lift helicopters for he job, take a look at Erickson Aircrane also, their S-64s can pull out as much or more than a Chinook in some cases.

Mike-
(Chinook Pilot)