Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

General purpose utility helicopter

Power Plant:

Two 1,044 kw (1,400 shp) General Electric CT58-1040-1 turboshafts

Specifications:

History:

Vertol Aircraft Corporation was formed in March 1956 and immediately commenced the design of a twin-turbine tandem-rotor transport helicopter for civil and military use. The prototype, the 107 (N74060), first flew on 22 April 1958 and was evaluated by the US Army, ten being ordered as the YHC-1A. Only three were delivered, the remainder of the order being converted to the 107-II, the prototype of which flew on 25 October 1960, this having General Electric T58-GE6 engines and rotors of increased diameter.

Later the type was obtained by the US Marine Corps as the Model HRB-1 (later CH-46A) and named ‘Sea Knight’. Subsequently the type saw considerable service with the US Marine Corps and US Navy in the troop transport and vertical replenishment roles, search-and-rescue, andspecial operations. It also saw service during the Vietnam War in a variety of roles.

The series was developed through the CH-46D, CH-46F, UH-46A, etc, being models with increased power and increased capacity. It was also operated by the RCAF as the CH-113A Voyageur. Eight were supplied to the Swedish Navy, these having the Rolls Royce Gnome H1200 turboshaft. In 1965 Kawasaki in Japan acquired the sales rights around the world for the series and placed the type in production as the KV-107/IIA. In the civil role the KV-107/II-2 carried a flight crew of two, a stewardess and 25 passengers.

The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight had a lift capability of 2,722 kg (6,000 lb) and could carry 25 combat-equipped troops, or could carry a medical evacuation team and litters. Normal endurance was two hours but this could be extended up to three hours with an extra internal tank. It had the ability to land and taxi on water; and was able to stay afloat for up to two hours in 50 cm (2 ft) seas. The capabilities and safety of the crew were upgraded over the years in order for it to continue in service pending the introduction to service of a replacement.

Following its introduction to service in the Vietnam War, armour and mini-guns were fitted, power being increased in the CH/UH46D models by installing the General Electric T-58-GE-10 engine. The last of 524 of the CH-46 series airframes was delivered in February 1971. In US Marine service it operated as an all-weather day-and-night assault transport delivering combat troops, supplies and equipment during amphibious operations. In addition, it was used for over-water search-and-rescue, mobile forward refuelling and re-arming, evacuation of casualties, etc.

In late 1971 the Australian Government was looking for a new helicopter for the Royal Australian Navy, Aerospatiale offering the Super Frelon, Sikorsky the S-61, Boeing the CH-47, and Westland the Sea King, the eventual winner. At the time Japan offered the Kawasaki-built version of the Boeing Vertol 107 and on 8 February 1972 it was announced in the press in Tokyo that the Japanese company had secured an order from the Australian Government for 26 examples of the 107 as a replacement for the Westland Wessex. However, it would appear no such order was placed.

Two examples have appeared on the Australian civil register, both owned by Colombia Construction Helicopters of Aurora, Oregon, USA in the USA. These machines VH-UIA (c/n 101 – ex N6682D) VH-UIB (c/n 108 – ex N189CH) were imported and leased by Helicopter Transport Pty Ltd for oil exploration work in the southern highlands of Papua New Guinea. However, they only operated from October 1971 to February 1972 when they were exported to the US where they took up their former identities.

Milne Bay Air was agent for Colombia Helicopters of Aurora, Oregon and had two contracts to provide helicopter support for oil exploration teams in the southern highlands of Papua New Guinea, one with Chevron at Poroma, south of Mendi, and the other with BP at Kubulu near Tari. In 1988 four Model 107-IIs were imported for oil exploration work in New Guinea.

These machines N186CH (c/n 4005), N190CH (c/n 2002), N188CH (c/n 107) and N191CH (c/n 2003) operated for a period from Ponomo and Kubulu, later becoming P2-CHA to P2-CHD, eventually being exported after the contract concluded. It is interesting to note that the former VH-UIA was again operating in New Guinea in November 1988 but returned to the USA in the middle of 1989.

Other examples have been seen in this region on board visiting ships of the US Navy, including ‘USS Rainer’ in March 1997 and ‘USS Belleau Wood’. In November 2006 a Colombia Helicopters 107-II P2-CHE arrived at Bankstown, NSW where it was assembled and flown to New Guinea. Two further HRB-1 Sea Knights, also known as the CH-46A / 107, were imported to New Guinea where they became P2-CHC (c/n 2002) and P2-CHD (c/n 2003).

In 2004 work commenced on an upgrade program for the type which involved increasing the fuel capacity, installing a new rotor head and upgraded transmission, and improving flight and rotor controls, etc. The 107 series served with distinction in the Gulf Wars and was expected eventually to be replaced by the Bell – Boeing MV-22 Osprey.

A Colombia Helicopters Model 107-II was imported to New Zealand from Oregon, USA in March 2004 for a new company set up to carry out heavy lift work, Colombia Helicopters NZ, for logging work, the parent company operating a number of these aircraft in this role in the United States. Entering service in 2005, this machine became ZK-HCW (c/n 5).

This machine had originally commenced operations with New York Airways (as N6675D) carrying passengers between Manhattan, La Guardia and Newark airports and by the time it arrived in New Zealand the log books showed it had accumulated 53,000 hours. It operated for some time in New Zealand using the US registration, being registered in New Zealand on 11 October 2005. It was usually operated by a flight crew of two and two engineers. It was expected further 107-IIs would be imported to operate on heavy lift work in the South Pacific, including in Australia, but in April 2007 ZK-HCW was exported and no further examples have been imported.