Chinook tested with CH-53K engines

[Slater]

Looks like a substantial increase in power. Wonder if this would be something the UK would be interested in?

 

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-concludes-trial-of-chinook-fitted-with-king-stallion-engines

Edited May 13, 2021 by Slater

[exdraken]

thanks, interesting concept!

 

I would like to know a bit more regarding technical details though!

more power usually also means higher fuel burn, as fuel efficiency is not drastically going up just because of a bigger engine.

that would mean more fuel needed on board....

the engine weight could also be a factor...additionally I assume the drive train is not able to cope with 50% more power without serious mods..--> additional weight most likely

would the rotors and airframe cope with significant higher take off weights?

 

so I assume high costs integrating the engine (for long service life, etc.)

 

[Motley]

As a current Chinook engineer, as much as i good idea as it seems, the biggest limiting factor to increasing how much the cabs can lift etc is the drive train between the engines and the blades. Can have all the power you want but if you cant transfer it, whats the point of having it. The transmissions seem to be one of the few parts that havent been upgraded as much as other areas such as the engines over the years. Saying that the current 714 engines which are used have plenty of power for what the Chinooks are used for

[EwenS]

Well the latest rumour is that the 14 Chinooks just ordered this week will be the MH-47G version.

[Graham Boak]

New or reworked?

[bootneck]

Here's a link to the announcement.  "All 14 aircraft will be purchased from the U.S. through the foreign military sales (FMS) program including development and manufacture over the next decade". 

Mike

[Slater]

Not sure how the T408 directly compares with the T55 series engines, but this is GE's claim for the T408/T64 comparison:

 

"When compared to its predecessor – the T64 turboshaft engine that powers the SUPER STALLION aircraft – the T408 will provide more than 57 percent more power, 18 percent better specific fuel consumption and 63 percent fewer parts. To date, the T408 has logged nearly 11,000 hours of testing, including CH-53K flight tests."

[Max Headroom]

6 hours ago, bootneck said:

Here's a link to the announcement.  "All 14 aircraft will be purchased from the U.S. through the foreign military sales (FMS) program including development and manufacture over the next decade". 

Mike

The article is ambiguous. Are they brand new airframes or existing RAF ones remanufactured? If the latter, please retire Bravo November to Cosford!

 

Trevor
 

 

[XV107]

They'll be new build. The oldest airframes will be retired (so BN to Cosford or Hendon is a distinct possibility). The only downside is that the bill for the pandemic means that we're unlikely to see the last of the new airframes before 2031.

 

The general thinking is that these will be to MH-47G standard or similar ('or similar' does not mean attempting to redo the HC3 fiasco!)

[junglierating]

20 hours ago, Motley said:

As a current Chinook engineer, as much as i good idea as it seems, the biggest limiting factor to increasing how much the cabs can lift etc is the drive train between the engines and the blades. Can have all the power you want but if you cant transfer it, whats the point of having it. The transmissions seem to be one of the few parts that havent been upgraded as much as other areas such as the engines over the years. Saying that the current 714 engines which are used have plenty of power for what the Chinooks are used for

Just like Merlin ...plenty of donkey power but the gearbox is made of italian cheese

[Danny]

On 5/15/2021 at 8:27 AM, junglierating said:

Just like Merlin ...plenty of donkey power but the gearbox is made of italian cheese

.

Edited December 28, 2022 by Danny