CH-47 Chinook With Powerful T408 Engines Takes to Skies

The U.S. Army has flown Boeing CH-47 Chinook powered by General Electric T408 engines for the first time.

“First fight of a Chinook with a General Electric T408 engine, expanding the capabilities of future Chinook heavy-lift missions for the U.S. Army,” the Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command's (CCDC) Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC) tweeted today.

CCDC said that this test, which included hover and pedal turn maneuvers, of the NCH-47D testbed helicopter was conducted from Felker Army Airfield.

The T408 turboshaft engine currently powers Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter. This engine is larger and heavier than the Honeywell T55 engines found on existing Chinooks. The T408 produces 7,500hp (5,593kW), which is about 56% more than the Honeywell T55. GE is also developing a T408 derivative for the Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program.

Honeywell is working on a more powerful version of its T55, the T55-GA-714C, capable of generating 6,000hp. The company claims this new engine more fuel efficient and would be easier to install because it does not require airframe changes.