EIAS 2026 – First CH-47F Chinook for Egypt on show
The first Boeing CH-47F Chinook for the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) was handed over at El Alamein Air Show on September 8. The helicopter delivered in May, has since been followed by a second in June, while four more are currently at the Alexandria port being assembled. They are all part of a 12 aircraft order believed to be worth around $426 million
The EAF took delivery of 18 CH-47D Chinooks in 1981, and these according to Boeing will continue in service for the foreseeable future. It is possible that another order could follow that would allow all the CH-47Ds to retire.
Egypt is the first operator of the CH-47F in North Africa, although Morocco does operate three ex-US Army CH-47Ds delivered by Columbia Helicopters in 2015. Previously Morocco had operated the CH-47D until they were retired around 2010.
A Boeing spokesperson told EDS that “the F version has a much stronger airframe , with its Lycoming T-55-GE-714 engines providing more lift because less trauma is being sustained by the airframe. The rotorhub has been strengthened, and there are crashworthy seats as well as digital avionics in the cockpit to replace the analogue dials.”
The medium-lift Chinook has become a worldwide sensation since being launched in 1961, and the CH-47F version is operated by or will be operated by the US Army, UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Turkey, Greece, Canada, Italy, Spain, Singapore, Saudi and UAE.
The first CH-47F is parked on the ramp at the EIAS at El Alamein, devoid of any marks save for the Egyptian serial number. Further along the apron is an older CH-47D variant that has been in service for around 45 years.
According to Boeing, Egypt uses for search and rescue, as well as human assistance and disaster relief, but would not go into details of whether it is armed. The remaining six CH-47Fs should be hand over to the EAF by the end of the year.
Photo by A. Warnes
