Marine Helo Down

[46Driver]

Just got in from flying students here in PCola - saw that a Marine CH-46E went down killing all 16 aboard (sounds like a crew of 4 Americans and a stick of 12 Brits). Anybody got any news? I've got a lot of buds and former students over there.

 

[T-Gates]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. Marine CH-46 helicopter crashed early Friday in Kuwait, killing all 16 people aboard, the first coalition fatalities of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pentagon officials said.

The 16 aboard included 12 British military personnel and four American crew members, Pentagon officials said.

The helicopter crashed 9 miles south of Kuwait's border with Iraq at 3:40 a.m. (7:40 p.m. ET Thursday).

There was no indication of hostile fire, officials said, saying it appeared the chopper went down because of some other problem, possibly mechanical.

The CH-46 is a dual-rotor assault helicopter mainly used to transport troops, supplies and equipment. Troop transport is the primary function of the helicopter, and movement of equipment and supplies is secondary.

The CH-46 has a maximum combat capacity of 14 troops and two aerial gunners.

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--03M

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

What are the main differences between a Chinook and a Sea King?

 

[46Driver]

A Sea King is the SH-3 manufactored by Sikorsky - it is a conventional (main rotor/tail rotor) helo used by the Navy but has been replaced by the H-60.

I think you are asking what is the difference between the "Sea Knight" and the Chinook. Both are tandem rotor helos developed by Boeing. The Navy and the Marines use the CH-46, the Army uses the CH-47. They look very similiar with the exception of the Chinook having 4 mainmounts and the Sea Knight having a tricycle arrangement of 3 mainmounts. The biggest difference is the size of the aircraft: the Sea Knight (known afffectionally as the Phrog by those who fly her) is primarily a troop transport with a max gross weight of 24,300 lbs. The Chinook also carries troops but is also the Army's heavy lift helo - its max gross weight is over 50,000 lbs.

A good website for your military questions is www.fas.org

Hope this helps.

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

Thanks 46 Driver. I did mean the Sea Knight.