CH-47 Chinook

The CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem-rotor heavy-lift helicopter built by Boeing, originally developed by Vertol and entering United States Army service in 1962, distinguished by its two large counter-rotating rotors mounted fore and aft rather than a single main rotor and tail rotor, a configuration that gives it exceptional lifting capacity and stability for its size. Its heavy-lift capability made it a workhorse for moving troops, artillery pieces and supplies in and out of difficult terrain, and the type saw extensive service transporting troops and equipment during the Vietnam War, where its ability to sling-load heavy loads beneath the fuselage proved especially valuable in jungle and mountain terrain lacking usable roads. Continuously upgraded through many variants over more than six decades of production and service, the Chinook remains in frontline use with the United States and many allied militaries today, and the type's combination of longevity and continued relevance is unusual among military helicopter designs of its original 1960s generation.