Boeing delivers last remanufactured helo

source flightglobal.com

PHILADELPHIA, April 25 (UPI)

The last remanufactured MH-47G Chinook has been delivered to the U.S. Army by Boeing's Military Aircraft Mobility Division in Pennsylvania. The handover of the 65th Special Operations Aviation aircraft marked the completion of the Service Life Extension Plan that has been in existence for more than 10 years. "This program has been a model of cost effectiveness and accelerated fielding," said Army Maj. Dan Henzie. "Because each MH-47G began its life as either a CH-47D or MH-47E, Boeing was able to accelerate the engineering and begin production years earlier than it could have provided a new airframe to the Army to support their critical mission. "Having this technology and combat power in the air over the past several years has undoubtedly saved American and allied warfighters' lives." Henzie is the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency's Boeing-Philadelphia chief of flight operations and an MH-47G acceptance pilot. The remanufacture timeline for each MH-47G took about 16 months, Boeing said. DCMA Boeing-Philadelphia maintained oversight of the remanufacturing, which took place in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Although the last remanufactured aircraft has been delivered, there are plans to build additional MH-47Gs. The program office is planning the production of eight new-build aircraft. The timeline for new production hasn't been finalized but it could begin in the next three years, Boeing said.